魔桶The Magic Barrel评论.docVIP

The Magic Barrel: An Analysis of Leo Finkle’s Attitude to Love and God In Bernard Malamud’s short story “the magic barrel”, the main role Leo Finkle, a rabbinical student, was advised that he might find it easier to win himself a congregation if he were married. So Leo went to the matchmaker Salzman’s for a bride. In the process, Leo Frinkle’s attitude to love and God changed obviously. This article will analyze the changes in detail by comparing Leo’s different behaviors form different aspects. First meeting with Salzman Firstly, we take a look at Leo’s answers towards Salzman introduction of some girls. The first Sophie P, young, healthy, smart and of high knowledge but a widow, was refused because “marrying a widow has never entered my mind” (p133), said Leo. Though Salzman spoke many good words of Sophie P, Leo still shook his head without hesitation. The second was Lily H, from a well Americanized family, beautiful and having her own career but of high age compared with Leo’s. When hearing Lily’s age, Leo directly turned down Lily. Well, on the other hand, when asked “if Rothschild’s a daughter wants to marry you, would you say on account her age, no?”(Rothschild was a well-known and wealthy German family of bankers.) (p134) Leo answered no. We know from his answer that age is acceptable if a person’s status for Leo is good enough. The third was Ruth K, a student quite young and from a good family. “‘Did you say nineteen?’ Leo asked with interest.”, “‘Is she attractive?’ He blushed. ‘Pretty?’” (p135) From these two sentences and the case of Lily, we know Leo wants a young bride. After asking about the appearance, Leo thought about love, “But don’t you think this young girl believes in love?” Not getting a clear answer, Leo cleverly asked, “How is her health?” The answer was depressing that “she is a little lame on her right foot from an auto accident when she was twelve years old.” (p135) Now, Leo felt curiously bitter and upbraided himself for having called