| "Balaban
argues persuasively for the interpretation of Oz's works along lines
which are not political but Jungian, all the while drawing on sources
from mythology and the Bible to demonstrate how Oz allegorizes the
conflicts within each individual's psyche. He supports his thesis
with careful development of ideas and sets them out in a clear and
lucid way. This study represents a significant contribution in its
original Hebrew edition. Now, with its recent updated revisions for
the English version, its value will be not only to bring the former
up to date, but also to acquaint the English reader with the caliber
of Hebrew literary scholarship and the talents of Amos Oz, one of
Israel's best fiction writers."-Stephen Katz, Indiana University
In Between God and Beast, Avraham Balaban argues that Oz's fiction
has, from the outset, followed Jung's psychological theory. The
major psychic processes that are depicted throughout Oz's prose
are typically Jungian. For example, the treasure hunt, which is
the deep structure of many of Oz's stories and novels, reflects
the search for the "self" in which all the vying forces of one's
psyche coexist peacefully. Oz uses many of the symbols of the treasure
as well as of the self as they are presented by Jung. Many of the
symbols examined in this study have never before been discussed
in articles about Oz's writings.
Balaban also devotes a considerable portion of his study to the
religious dimension of Oz's work as well as the impact of his personal
life on his writings. Balaban reveals that from the beginning Oz's
work has moved in two directions: it demonstrates an unceasing effort
to delve ever deeper into the dark side of consciousness while heightening
the contrast between the opposing elements vying within his protagonists;
and it consistently attempts to bring those oppositions to peaceful
coexistence and even to a fruitful mutual relationship. |
|
|
