Jordyn Snow
WGS 3463-995
Women and Religion
Essay/Blog 3
Esther and Judith both use their
intelligence and beauty to save the Jews. In Judith’s case, she saves all of
Israel. Though both were in positions traditionally considered weak, Esther was
an orphan and Judith was a widow, these women were able to influence leaders in
their respective communities. Judith uses her beauty to gain entrance into the
Assyrian camp and to seduce Holofernes in order to behead him (Jdt 10:11-19;
Jdt 12:16-13:8). Likewise, Esther uses her beauty to convince King Ahasuerus to
marry her and then to gain an uninvited audience with him without being killed
(Est 2:17; Est 5:1-2). Judith and Esther also both develop intricate plans to
accomplish their goals. Judith establishes a prayer schedule in the Assyrian
camp that grants her an opportunity to kill Holofernes and escape without
raising suspicion (Jdt 13:10). Similarly, Esther does not simply ask King
Ahasuerus to save the Jews, but over the course of two feasts she increases the
King’s favor towards her (Est 5:4-8). Judith and Esther appear more similar in
their motivations by including the characterization of Esther from the Additions
to the book of Esther.
In both the book of Judith and the Additions to the book of
Esther, the ability of Judith and Esther to succeed in their endeavors was
strengthened by their religious piety, which served as a source of their
wisdom. Both Judith and Esther pray to God for support before attempting to carry
out their plans. It is important to note that though Esther asks God to save
the Jews by His hand, Judith asks God to save Israel by her hand (Jdt 9:9;
AddEst 14:14). Esther, especially as portrayed by the Additions to the book of
Esther, seems less independent than Judith. God’s involvement in the Additions
to the book of Esther decreases Esther’s ability to save the Jews of her own
power. God changes the King’s reaction to Esther and shifts more of the focus
onto Mordecai’s role in Esther’s endeavors by giving Mordecai insight into His
plan (AddEst 15:7-8; AddEst 1:12). God does not become directly involved in the
events that take place in the book of Judith, as He does in the Additions to
the book of Esther. God’s involvement in the book of Judith, however, gives
Judith more authority and is a main component of her ability to lead. If Judith
had not been perceived as a godly woman, the leaders of the town would have been
less inclined to listen to her advice (Jdt 8:28-31). Esther’s characterization
in the book of Esther without the additions shows her to be more
self-sufficient and less reliant upon male characters. Yet in my opinion,
Judith is still more capable of acting for herself. As illustrated by LaCocque
in her analysis of Esther, Mordecai has to request Esther to help the Jews and
convince her to intercede on their behalf (“Esther” 74). Mordecai was also
Esther’s guardian until she married the King. Esther’s sexuality helps her
acquire this marriage and assumedly would have been necessary to maintain her
position as Queen. Judith on the other hand decides to be a chaste widow and
not remarry, as LaCocque points out this allows her another form of
independence from men (“Judith” 38). Judith did not have anyone to look out for
her, besides God, but also no one to cater to. She was a strong woman and could
stand on her own.
I agree the both Judith and Esther both used their intelligence and beauty to their advantages. I think that Judith is less reliant on men due to their absence in this particular stage in her life and was able to take most of the credit for chasing the Assyrians away. Esther did help save the Jews it seemed like Mordecai got away with most of the credit.
ReplyDeleteRachel Robinson
I also agree that Judith and Esther both used their intelligence and beauty in order to help save their people, and of course, their own lives. Their methods were radically different on one level, but have many similarities on the other. For example, they both had to play the role of seductress. Esther ends up being married to someone who haphazardly declared death to all her people, but she fixes that situation by making him fall in love with her and also by asking for the death of 75,000 or so citizens of his kingdom who posed a threat to the people of Israel. Judith murders her would-be lover, praying the whole time and uses his head to trick his people, giving her own people the advantage they need to win in battle and free themselves.
ReplyDelete