The Study Of Jewishness Of Malamud's The Assistant

Jewish writers almost have occupied the whole of American literature during the 20th century, and American Jewish Literature experiences a great prosperity as well. In this article, the author choose, Bernard Malamud, a Jewish writer who possesses a strong air of Jewishness and humanitarian but unfortunately neglected by domestic Scholars as an object. Through a thorough study of Bernard Malamud's representative novel, The Assistant, the author concludes Bernard Malamud's Jewishness as follows:First, the Jews are those who maintain Jewishness in everyday lives according Jewish principles. Jewish basic nature is Good Deeds, because Judaism is a religion, which holds Good at the center of it and requires Deed as a necessary. Deeds play a special role in Judaism and it has an unparalleled priority too, because Deeds are the accumulated precondition of Good. Good always hides in the bottom of peoples' hearts while God utters the calling of Good to human beings, who should practice Good Deeds in response.Second, Jewishness is not inborn, but acquired afterborn gradually. The formation of Jewishness in The Assistan has three approaches: First, by the way of Meaningful Passion, namely suffering for others, for the Jewish principles and for God. Second, the pious confessions, namely confessing for themselves and for others. Third, the return to the God.Although Malamud's' Jewishness writing brings a great success spiritually, that is to say he realizes the aim of saving criminal souls, he confronts a complete failure actually. The Assistant is a reflection of embarrassing reality situation of Jewishness, and it highlights the strong conflict between Jewish traditional culture and the American culture.