Seeing the Heroism of Esther

Haman's characterization of the Jews as "a certain people, dispersed among many peoples in all the countrys of your res publica" (Esth. 3.8), implies that Haman is im social functioning more or less new study to Ahasuerus. Haman's purpose is murderous, of course, exactly the present take is that Ahasuerus--preoccupied as he is with provincial governors, courtly splendor, harem, Vashti's insubordination, and so on--does non appear to sport given the Jews as a group much perspective hotshot way or the other. Offended by Mordecai's insubordination, Haman makes a project of changing that, setting the wheels in motion that testament oblige Ahasuerus to take account of the Jews province by province and dispense with them once and for all. Haman's action has the effect of making the Jews, besides a relatively invisible rank set comprising one of Ahasuerus's many subordinate peoples, more visible. Personal animus against Mordecai drives his move to make state policy for Ahasuerus. Ahasuerus, meanwhile, agrees to Haman's plan in a relatively casual way. When Mordecai, who after all has little to lose, takes to the streets in sackcloth and ashes as something of a protest against the death decree for the Jews, the communicatory line of Esther as a story about the side of Jews in the Diaspora is firmly established. In this regard, White makes the point t

The fact that Esther learns to work within this heavy situation, to protect her life and that of the people is suggested by the shape that her presumption of queenly prerogative takes. That shape is one of subordination: by and by the three-day fast that has the effect of proving to the court that she is a Jew, she makes a impress appearance at court. It is only an appearance. She does not at this point dare to plead with Ahasuerus immediately. Instead, she puts her beauty to work for her, standing at a respectful distance from Ahasuerus so that he expertness observe her.

Then, beginning with the first dinner invitation, by degrees, not unlike the spider with the fly, she makes a project of seducing Ahasuerus ("if it please your loftiness") while beguiling Haman enough to put him offguard until she can quite a literally move in for the kill. It might even be suggested that Esther perfectly plays the role of subordinate, using her social position as an instrument of power while also pursuing a subtext of ever-increasing importance, the mission to save the Jews from destruction.

According to Bickerman's account of Esther, "it is unnecessary to live on the decision of Esther to come to the king uninvited" (192). On the contrary, the enormity of Esther's decision and action to undertake the king cannot be overstressed. This decision is an important index of the development of Esther's heroic personality. Her condition as a Jew puts her in peril, and her status as part of the harem positions her as an inferior who is absolutely subject to Ahasuerus's laws. Esther is primed(p) in the position of functioning as a subordinate to Mordecai in yet another gesture of filial worship toward him, even though she sets the terms (the three-day fast) under which she will approach Ahasuerus. Yet asserting whatever queenly prerogative she has in Ahasuerus's court is undoubtedly a gesture, not of obedience but rather of insubordination. Given the earlier disappearance of the insubordinate Vashti from
Ordercustompaper.com is a professional essay writing service at which you can buy essays on any topics and disciplines! All custom essays are written by professional writers!