From A Servant Of Sin To A Servant Of Righteousness

Isaac Bashevis Singer has his unique voice in world literature. He not only insists on using Yiddish in his creation, but also sticks to one subject-the lives and experiences of Polish Jews. As a believer of God, Singer applying his impassioned narrative arts reveals the struggles between faith and doubts among the Jews who root in their tradition. His works also bring universal human conditions to lite. In The Magician of Lublin, the hero Yasha Mazur experiences the limits of his wisdom to understand God, suffers the struggles between worldly passion and God's righteousness. At last, in the slavery of sin, Yasha makes a hard decision:being the servant of righteousness, for the freedom and cleanness of his soul. He shuts off the lure and temptations from outside world and cages the devils in his inner world by self imprisonment, waiting for the coming of God's kingdom.In the light of Christian doctrines, this thesis analyzes the repentance process of Yasha, by probing into moral struggles in the text, and Singer's artistic views and religious feelings. It reveals that since everyone is a sinner, he can not win the battle against evils by himself. Therefore, only God's son Messiah can bring human beings the ultimate salvation. This thesis applies the religious point of view to analyze the religious thoughts in The Magician of Lublin, purports to make a better understanding of the narrative structure and religious thoughts of Singer.This thesis is composed of three chapters apart from the introduction and conclusion. Chapter one focuses on Yasah's searching of God. Chapter two illustrates that Yasha finds himself a sinner and is in slavery of his sins. Chapter three is devoted to God's salvation and Yasha's choice of being a righteous person.