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In 1954, Bernard Malamud’s luminescent short story, The Magic Barrel came out. In 1958, he published a much more mature work, The Assistant. Through complex relationship of the main characters in the two works, we can clearly catch the trace of one traditional theme in Jewish culture—sacrifice providing redemption.
Sacrifice providing redemption plays an important role in Jewish tradition, which has been influencing the Jews generation after generation. Bernard Malamud involved this tradition in his works. As Chosen People of God, the Jewish people have to experience a lot. The modern Jewish immigrants in American society are also no exception. Malamud describes a world full of poverty, indebtedness, homelessness and misfortune, in which his humble heroes shine beyond the outside they survive. The severity of his characters’ suffering is a necessity. Only great affliction can bring out their hidden spiritual force, their understanding of their own capacity for dignity and compassion.
Leo, Salzman, and Stella in the Magic Barrel, and Frank, Morris and Helen in The Assistant are chosen to suffer a lot and endure it. Symbiotic victimization binds those characters together. Referring to fates of the three people, we are provided a platform to try to understand the meaning of complex life. At the end of the works, their conversion to goodness is moral enhancement brought by their growing awareness of their own dignity and their responsibility to others. More importantly, we are able to have a better understanding of the Jewish tradition—seeking redemption through sacrifice.

Key words: The Magic Barrel; The Assistant; Malamud; sacrifice; redemption

牺牲—救赎
—犹太文化传统在《魔桶》和《伙计》中的再现

留学生论文 https://www.51lunwen.org/

摘要: 《魔桶》是美国杰出的犹太作家伯纳德•马拉默德于1954年创作的，被称为美国短篇小说中的精品。此后于1958年问世的长篇小说《伙计》进一步奠定他在美国文学界的重要地位。“牺牲—救赎”是贯穿于犹太人经验生活和超验生活的传统主题之一。作为上帝的选民，经历磨难是犹太民族的必然的生命实践。犹太民族到达美国后，以其特有的方式履践着犹太传统的“牺牲—救赎”母题。在《魔桶》中，以牺牲求救赎的命运之绳将主人公—列奥,沙兹曼和斯妲拉—紧紧拴在了一起。同样，在《伙计》中，我们同样看到弗兰克和犹太人莫里斯及其女儿海伦的命运纠葛。他们主动走向对负罪命运的寻找，自动纳入到一种痛苦，赎罪的生活轨道之中。他们生命相依，在命运救赎的过程中展现了他们的共生关系。作者通过主人公的命运转变，表现出人类向往新生活，追求道德完善的主题。
关键词：《魔桶》；《伙计》；马拉默德；牺牲；救赎。

Contents

Acknowledgements………………………………………………..ⅰ
Abstract……………………………………………………….........ⅱ
Chapter One Introduction………………………………………....1
Chapter Two Leo and Frank—From Social Sufferers to a Mythical Saviors …………………………………………………………………..9
Chapter Three Stella and Helen—From Wandering Ones to New Buds………………………………………………….…………….17
Chapter Four Salzman and Morris—From Schlemiel to Messengers of God…………………………………………………………...…22
Chapter Five Conclusion………...……………………….…..30
References………………………………..………………………..34

留学生论文https://www.51lunwen.org/