Identity Lost And Regained-Yakov's Metamorphosis In The Fixer

Bernard Malamud is universally ranked as one of the leading Jewish writers in the history of American literature after World War II. Honored as the most Jewish writer in America, he spares no effort to display a unique perspective in Jewish history and culture in his novels and stories. Much concerned about Jewish destiny, Malamud firmly believes that people will gain much inspiration by seriously pondering over the sufferings of Jews.The Fixer (1966) is one of Malamud s masterpieces. It recounts the story of Yakov Bok, a Russian Jew, who suffers a lot from the anti-Semitic Russian government. The novel, which wins the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Awards shortly after its publication, marks the zenith of Malamud s writing career. For decades, many scholars home and abroad probe into the novel from different perspectives, which include the theme of suffering, the archetype of the novel s protagonist and the historical significance.Different from other perspectives, this paper puts its focus upon the issue of Jewish identity. Exploring the development of Yakov s awareness to his own Jewish identity, this paper will reveal the essence of Jewish identity implied in the novel by analyzing Yakov s metamorphosis in three parts.The first part elaborates upon Malamud s unique views in Jewish identity and unveils the reasons behind Yakov s identity crisis. Nauseated by his Jewish identity and eager to abandon it, Yakov is also aware of the difficulty to get rid of his Jewish identity and enter into secular life.The second part mainly discusses the unexpected positive effect upon Yakov s awareness to his Jewish identity exerted by anti-Semitic forces from the Christian world. Yakov s sufferings inflicted by anti-Semites drive him to meditate upon the destiny of Jews and motivate him to come to terms with his Jewish identity.The third part probes into the influence of Spinoza, a famous Jewish philosopher, who provides spiritual guidance for Yakov. At first, Yakov misinterprets Spinoza s advocacy to pursue individual freedom and ends up as a prisoner. But later, Yakov comes to realize that the real freedom lies in one s undertaking responsibility in history and at this moment, his Jewish identity is fully regained.