WOMAN WRESTLING WITH FATE – ON RACHEL IN THE BOOK OF GENESIS

• Authors: Meifang Nangong
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

Rachel is the wife of Jacob, the immediate ancestor of the Israelites. Her life story which is scattered in the Book of Genesis seems to show that her life was a tragedy and she was almost a loser, though she was especially beloved by her husband. But a more in-depth reading suggests that the narrative about Rachel is actually so subtle as to imply that there is another possible interpretation of Rachel as a literary character: a life of dignity and passion. Rachel’s confrontation and even wrestle with hardships presents to readers a brave and active woman image, along with her happiness, sorrow, despair and hope. Meanwhile, her life is also a symbol of tragic, but unyielding historical experience that is shared by all the early matriarchs as well as the Israelites.

Keywords

EN

RACHEL; GENESIS; NARRATIVE; WRESTLING

• Publisher: Institute of Oriental Studies, Slovak Academy of Sciences
• Journal: Asian and African Studies
• Year: 2015
• Volume: 24
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 156 – 164

Contributors

author

Meifang Nangong

• Institute of Oriental Studies, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Klemensova 19, 813 64 Bratislava, Slovak Republic