Online ISSN: 2515-8260

I Suffer For You: Survival Through Sufferings In Bernard Malamud's The Assistant.

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Resliya.M. S1 , V.M. Berlin Grace2 , D. David Wilson3

Abstract

Life is a tragedy full of joy- stated by Bernard Malamud, one of the most important Jewish-American writers, while explaining the characteristic mixture of sorrow and comedy in his works. His parents are Russian Immigrants. His writings have universal appeal. Malamud is mainly preoccupied with the complex faith of being a Jew. The major concerns of Malamud's heroes are suffering, commitment and responsibility. Despite their guilt-ridden past, they suffer for a new life. Suffering enabled by their commitment and gratitude towards a more perfect life. These acts of heroism are not acts of self, but derived from or created responsibility towards another soul. The moral vision of Malamud synthesizes values common to Judaic, Greek and Christian traditions. Thus, it is pertinent to not that all the major Malamudian chracters to become more human through their journey of sufferings. They offers the possibility of humanism for the sufferers and that is central to the moral vision. In this article I would like to discuss the characters of Bernard Malamud, with special reference to his second novel The Assistant. How they fight to survive and how they face the obstacles being a Jew and Refugee is my focus. Malamud's characters do not consider suffering as a curse for them rather, a boon to bring the best in man.

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