24 CHAPTER THREE analysis of the Esther narrat
Models used
Introduction What
follows
is
a
discuss
have been
of
the analys
some models
vvhich of the structure of Esther. From the discussion of the models of anaysis it will become clear that chiastic-reversal
seen
apply
to
not narrative
the
's entirety, which is contrarary to our position. We
foundation here for the analysis of the narrative in it's entirety whi
we will attempt in chapter
has
four.
After
each
model
been
discussed cOmIT,ents will be made. some evaluat
The starting point for this part of the investigation is
the
book
comment
of
of Klein
Judges]
elements
is
a
(1989:11),
structured
that:
entity
are shaped to contribute to
the
'it
in
[the which integri and significance of the whole .... ' As far as the Book of Esther is concerned
elements which 'contribute to the integrity and signi
principle
of
literary
are chiastic-reversal and the narrative
charac
view (1990:26)
of the whole'
sa
on,
underscoring
that 'Esther can
composition. '
example, writes:
I
Berg
[tJhe theme of
Goldman's
as a
(1979:106-107),
is so
fied
25 important
even
his
structures
principle;
narrator
the book of Esther that
[and
book of E
according
story
continues]
'tJhe
this
to
structure
of
the
r is ordered according to the theme of
She
reversal. '
also
quotes
Fox
(1991:156-1
approvingly in this regard.
Radday
(1973:9-10)
composed
Similarly,
chi
also
according
Loader
to
believes
a
pattern
1977:97)
ic reversal
that
of
remarks:
4.to 12.
Esther
reversals.
'_tJhis
great
[i.e. Chap 3:1-9:19]
confirms that we have a unit in this division of
the novel.' Furthermore, Schutte (1989:33-38),
study of the structure of Esther,
presence
of
s
this context
has a
in
'compositional function.'
fore
so demonstrates
chiastic-reversal
(1983:18-19)
his
pattern.
In
remarks that chiasm
Chiastic-reversal is
indisputably fundamental
to
the structure
the Esther narrative.
This
acknowledgement,
its
consistent
compositional
illus
however,
application
structure
below.
To
in
Es
this
used
not
resul
analyses
---
do
models which have
has
we
as
now
we
of
in
the
hope
examine
two
the analysis of the
ructure of the Esther narrative.
1. The Symmetrical Model
Among those using
Fox (1991:156-1
s model are
(1979:106-107),
), Baldwin (1984:30), Bensusan
26 (1988:7
79p, and Radday (1
3:9).
Radday's analysis seems to be the
ing point
inve
others so we will deal with
the
structure
(Ra dda y 1
pattern
of
the
narrative.
gat
According
of
to
him
narrative is based on a chiasmus
3 : 9)
which
narrati ve
provides
symmetry as
with
its
lows:
pening and background (1)
he King's
t decree
(
clash between Haman and Mordecai
+-~~~n
that night
(4-5)
King could not sleep' (6:1)
Mordecai's triumph over Haman chs.
(6-7)
The King's second decree (8-9)
logue
Radday
seems
narrative
as
concentric
to
apply
a
whole,
circles
concentric
s
in
the
idea
of
resulting
with
circles.
symmetry.
chiasmus
(10)
6:1
This
symmetry
as
chiasm
in
the
a
narrative.
number
pivot
gives
indicates
On
closer
to
of
of
the
structure
presence
examination
Radday's structuring, however, suggests that chapters
1,2 and 10 are not arranged according to the chiastic
principle.
Chapter
1
is
regarded
as
y
introductory, chapter 2 is linked to chapter 3 as the
first decree of
king, but since each contains a
27 decree by the king
(chapter 2 concerning Vashti and chapter 3 concerning the Jews) they should be treated . Chapter
as two separate
the
epilogue of
extent that
and
is
is regarded as
introductory
principle
s
the
chapter
is
not
1.
is merely seen as ~o
chiast
the opposite
Given
applied
to the
to
the
the chiastic whole
of narrative by Radday. We
will
show
in
the
next
chapter,
however,
that chapters 1 and 10 are more than just the introduct and conclusion respectively, because each one
of a cycle which is structured chi
chapter
2
together
shou
they
Radday fails,
be
form a
linked
part cally. Further, to
chapter
1
because chiastically structured unit. there
to apply
principle of chiasm consistently in his analys
and structuring of the narrative. Of interest is the
5 conta
the reversal of the
pair)
though
that concentric circles 3 and the
main
Radday
does
fortunes
characters
not
make
the
this
of two
{a story,
even icit.
This points to a very important idea, namely, the link of
chiasm to
characterisation which
proper structural analysis of
further
to
noted
is
crucial
for
a
Esther narrative. A
the role the king plays
each of the main sections of Radday's structure,
as can be seen from concentric circles 2,3 and 6 in
structure above.
He is
to the outcome of the
28 events
and
destiny
the
characters.
This
fact
has
fortunes
of
the
ficance
for
the
si
, as will
structural analysis of the Esther narrat
be illustrated in
next chapter.
(1979:106-107,119,n42)
Berg
appears to take Radday's
analysis and structure a step further by arguing that
pattern
of
reversal
in
the
form
antithesis applies to the whole narra
In
this
tes:
she
follows
Fox
'[t]
(1991:15
ical
ve
de
1.
162)
when
she
lows that suggested
by Fox.' She works with the bas
[i.e.
thesis­
comparison of passages
the Book of Esther
according
of
to
power,
her
(1979:95)
kinship,
idea of moti
'[t]
, for
dominant
moti
obedience/disobedience]
helps
to unify the book of Esther by potently anticipating
or
recalling
conscious
r
uses
of
other
occurrences
parallelism
and
Moreover, the motif which is central
idea
of
the
feasts
(my
through
contrast. '
Berg is the
emphasis)
(1979:59).
opens and closes with a feast;
The
the turning
points in the story always happen in the context of a
feast,
example,
enthronement,
and
Haman's
demise,
dethronement,
Mordecai's
defence of the Jews against the
It must be noted
derive
Vashti! s
their
rstly,
significance
however,
from
Esther's
promotion,
enemies.
that the
feasts
event(s}
happens at the feast, namely, the reversal
the
that
29 tiny
the
the
iny
another
indicates:
characters . Without the reversal of
of
the
characters
t,
as
Fox
is
(1991: 156)
so
sts dominates
rather
the
Berg's
feasts
as
par.3,
suggests
is
so
dominant
o~n
its
as
y
par.1,2,
99
frequent reference
tical
par.1);
role
add
to
'the theme (my emphasis)
important
in
the
narrator even structures
principle (my emphasis)'
'structures' his
book
a
motif,
structure of the narrative (
statement that:
the
relati vising of the
the
questionable. Further, Berg's
reversal
c-
compositional structure of
Consequently,
theme,
Chi
motif of
than
reversal principle by referring to
composit
ttingly
fts of power .... '
therefore,
to
just
' .... banquets ... are the sites of important
events and .... signals
narrati ve.
the
of
the
. 1979:97
this
the
of reversal
Esther
that
the
s story according to
s
(1979:106).
according to
If the narrator
s 'principle',
reversal must surely be more important than just
a theme in the narrative. In addition,
(1979:95)
remarks that the dominant motifs recall 'their other
occurrences through conscious uses of paral
contrast.' Now this description of how
moti
function in
ism
dominant
story points to the
ence
of an underlying principle on which the moti
in the
structure are dependent.
In addition,
the comment
that '[aJn analysis of these motifs thus provides a
30 starting
method
po
(my
(1979:18),
other
for
our
attempts
emphasis)
and
to
message
self-reference.
structural principle
narrative,
of
the
the
book'
serve a function
suggests that the moti
than
understand
They
point
to
the
to the composition of the
as stated previously.
make the motifs
central to the structure of the narrative, given this
comment,
is
to
make
them
an
end
in
themselves,
contrary to what she herself claims.
though Berg's analysis supports the contention that
chiastic-reversal
Esther,
two
is
factors
failure
to
basic
structure
belie
s
apply
support,
principle
reversal to chapters 1 2,
and b)
of
namely,
of
.a)
chias
the fact
that the
motif of feasts is incorrectly identified as central
the structure of the narrat
(1991:158,n12)
structural
organises
I
(my emphas
much
events, ....
Although
writes:
of
the
:
In this regard Fox
t J he
theme
most
in Esther,
presentation
and
the theme of peripety ....
Berg,
seemingly,
does not go far enough
goes
important
one
that
wording
of
I
beyond
Radday,
the recognition given to
principle of chiastic-reversal in
structure
of ---=--=---=-Es
Bensusan
(1988:75-80)
so believes
that the
feasts
are the fundamental idea around which the story is
31 structured.
This
view
out
he
in
diagram
below (1988:77 78, cf. also Fox 1991:157):
(including one
A. 2 FEASTS-XERXES' at
simul taneously for the women),
Est.
1;3,5,9.
B FEAST AND TAX REMISSION -
following
~sther's
appointment (Coronation),
.2:18.
C 2 FEASTS - ESTHER'S
B FEAST AND HOLIDAY CONCESSIONMordecai's appointment (New
lowing
ct), Est. 8:17.
A 2 FEASTS-PURIM at the conclusion (came to be
permanent festival) Est. 9:17,19; 9:18.
He goes on to say (Bensusan 1988:76) that the
ts
'centre
of
around
fortunes .... ',
a
and
core
continues
Loader (1978:418) to
backbone of
own
statement
of
(1988:71)
by
quoting
effect that reversal is 'the
whole plot.'
and
reversal
his
On
quotation
grounds of his
of
Loader
it
is
difficult to see how Bensusan can conclude that the
feasts
and not chiastic-reversal are
the bas
for
structure of the Esther narrative.
The Symmetrical Model,
though us
for an analysis
of the compositional structure of Esther, is not
32 adequate
is
such
Radday,
as
s
discussion
of
, and Bensusan has shown.
2. The Chain Model
The approach which I
have
the
'chain mode '
divides the narrative into pericopes.
The pericopes
are then 1
to each other and the manner of and
basis for the
way
described in detai . In this
J...
structure
s
1
method
is
becomes clear.
the s
followed,
among
others,
by
(1981:153), Loader (1977:95-109,1980:146)
(1989:2
Murphy
cope
42).
a
Loader
s
further,
division
takes
and
departure from
Schutte
analysis
s
(1989:27-33)
Murphy
Schutte's
shows
only
of Loader's, we wil
a
of
own
minor
use Loader's
pericope division and structuring for the purpose of
scussing
Loader
model.
fines
various peri
as
the
structure as
which
'the way
s in themselves are built up as well
arrangement
composi t
of
the
Accordingly,
Loader
these
book
as
(1977:96)
the following pericopes:
units
a
whole'
divides
in
the
(1977: 95) .
the narrative
33 1. Vacancy in a key position (1:1-22)J ......... :
L'
, ..
Vacancy filled
Esther (2: 1-20) ......... ~ .... ' J
3. Conspiracy revealed (2:21-23) r',
Clash between Haman and Mordecai
Ls
Haman's anti -Jewish decree (3: 8-15)
(3:1-7~J
Bl'" ....:
J­
ro"
Mordecai's reaction (4:1-17) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ___ . ~
Esther's unfolding of the reaction (S:l-SlJ":'"
i r'
Clash between Mordecai and Haman (5: 9-14)
,_.G.
Mordecai rewarded at Haman's cost (6:1-13)-"'12
~o.
41.
"~.
[
J5.
Unravelling of the plot (6:14-8:2)
Reversal of the Jew's situation
~
...... _,
., ... ,.,",
(8:~
Unfolding of the reversal i 9, 1 19 i
The Purim festival
.
,- -.
.;
(9:20-32) 14. Elevation of Mordecai
{10:1-3~
The narrative is divided
14 pericopes according
to this structure. The
copes are linked to each
other as shown on the left side of the diagram and
represent the unity of the narrative on the surface
level.
linkages between pericopes on
ri
the diagram represent the deep structure of
side
the narrative.
ated,
Thus
surface and deep
giving
the
narrative
are
its
compact
unity. The integration of surface and deep structures
suggests
also
underlying
that
this
chain-like
arrangement is a chiastic pattern.
Schutte
(1989:31)
f
from
Loader
combines two of Loader's pericopes, no 4
no.
5
(3:8-15)
that
(3:1-7)
he
and
without providing an explanation for
the change. Now, chapter 3:1-7 (pericope 4)
scribes
34 (pericope
scribes
5)
the
victory
of
Haman.
The
5:
counterpart to this situation is to be found
14
(
cope 8)
Schutte
and 6:1-13
retains
(pericope 9)
8
pericopes
and
as separate pericopes
them.
respectively.
9
of
does not combine
Since pericopes 8 and 9 are mirror
pericopes 4 and 5,
cons
keep
images of
it seems to me that Schutte must
tent and retain Loader's divis
is,
copes 4 and 5 as separate pericopes.
In the diagram pericope 3
(2:21-23)
of the surface structure,
is linked, on the
to peri cope 4 (3:1-7)
1 of the deep structure to pericope 12
but on the
(9:1-19). According to Loader the reason
the
Loader's
fact
Mordecai
that
the
(pericopes
rst
clash
4 and 5)
this is
between
ends in a
Haman
and
victory
Haman. This clash is described in pericopes 6 and 7.
The second clash
Mordecai
(pericope 8)
(pericope 9).
results in victory for
The second clash is
loped
further in pericopes 10-12 in that it is now extended
to the clash between
Jews and their enemies. At
point of the second clash the victory of Mordecai
prefigures
and,
in
victory of the Jews over their enemies
light of
s pre
of pericope 3 becomes clear.
gur ing ,
It shows that Mordecai
should have been rewarded but
is
ayed until pericope 9.
contributes
to
the
function
was not.
reward
In this way pericope 3
mounting
tens
'Mordecai's merit and Haman's temporary
between
ctory over
35 him'
(Loader, 1977:97).
Pericopes 1
a
double
12 evidence chiasmus because we have
feast
in
both,
i.e.
9:1
1:3-5
19.
Finally, pericopes 12
13 are linked in that the
whole
are
of
copes
1-12
Purim Feast of pericope 13.
connected
directed
towards
Pericope 13 and 14 are
surface
on
prominence of Esther
the
s
13 is counterbalanced by
prominence of Mordecai in 14.
Now the
ysis of Loader points convincingly to the
fact that chiasmus
fundamental to the structural
composition of the Esther narrat
. It further shows
reversal and chiasm are inseparable structural
principles,
and that they are principles
author
consciously employed in his writing of
Radday (1973: 9)
firms:
story as
'Esther's author adheres to
"the chiastic tradition which he had inherited from
his predecessors'"
(cf. also Berg,
1979:108; Schutte
1989:33-42, Fox 1991:158, especially note 12).
In evaluating
s anal
Esther narrative,
we agree
evidences
the whole narrative
ic-reversal
principle.
however, does not carry this principle
his
ysis. For, although
the use of the chiasmus
frequency .... ,'
10:3. Our
says
as
as
1:1-2:20, 2:21
led discuss
of
Loader,
enough in
(1977:101)
our novel
chiasmus,
shows, is not present
the
is of the structure
'that
of a high
the
agram
3, and 9:20­
e sections of
36 the
story
contrary.
in
the
Because
next
of
chapter
this,
the
will
prove
chain model
the
is
an
the analysis of the structure of
inadequate model
the Esther narrative.
Conclusion
In
s chapter we have
scussed two models used
analysing the structure of
Both
models
reversal
work
with
structure of
story_
fferently,
to
the
Esther
But we have
chiasmus
to
and
compositional
These models,
to the matter
narrative,
is,
that
chiastic­
Esther.
so seen, however, that both models fail
account
for
chiast
and
Radday),
9:20-10:3,
(Loader,
chiastic
that
affirms THAT chiastic-reversal is bas
reversal takes place
to
idea
fundamental
are
narrative.
E
-reversal
1:1
in
Murphy
is
chapters
revers a=-
not
:20,
2;2~-23,
and
Schutte).
seen
as
1-2,
and
is,
present
in
entire narrative.
Furthermore,
in so
as
discussed mode=-s fail
to give adequate attention to
character (isation)
reversal,
they
compositional
reve
of
fferently,
of HOW chiast
are
as
it
of
feature of
ates
to
inadequate
structure
the
sal
analysing
Esther
characters
whi
are
cenntral.
the models do not address
reversaal happens
chi as tic-
E
the
the
Put
question
WHAT
37 the nature of the chiastic-reversal
Esther is.
In the next chapter we will use a model for analysing
the
s
1.
structure
ly
That
That
the
Esther
two issues
the
around the
2.
of
the
eparably
whole
of
narrative
which
sed above, that is:
the
narrative
is
structured
tic-reversal principle;
reversals
linked to
we
encounter
in Esther
the main characters
are
of
narrative.
We
turn
our
at tent
Esther narrative on
the 'Cyclical Model'.
now
to
an
analysis
the
basis of what I have termed