This paper in concerned with the novel Call it Sleep, a work by the Jewish-American writer Henry Roth. First of all, some general facts about the author will be presented to provide an appropriate context for the further discussion. Afterwards, the structure of the novel will be explained by giving an overview over the main symbols and their function within the book.
The emphasis will then be put on the characterization of David Schearl, the central character of the novel. His search for purification and salvation will be scrutinized with regard to the "Isaiah Story", a passage of the Old Testament, which is strongly linked to the topic of redemption. At the end of the paper the question whether David can be called a her-messiah because of his strong sensibility concerning religious themes and experiences will be discussed.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. General Facts about Call It Sleep and its Author Henry Roth
3. The Structure of the Novel
4. A Characterization of David Schearl
5. The Function of the “Isaiah Story” in Call It Sleep
5.1. The “Isaiah Story” in the Old Testament
5.2. The “Isaiah Story” in Call It Sleep – Book III “The Coal”, Chapter IV
5.3. The symbolic meaning of the “Coal”
5.4. The Function of the “Isaiah Story” for David
6. David Schearl – A Hero-Messiah?
7. Summary
Objectives and Topics
This paper explores the symbolic and thematic significance of the "Isaiah Story" within Henry Roth's novel Call It Sleep. It examines how the protagonist, David Schearl, interprets this biblical narrative as a framework for his personal quest for purification, salvation, and identity amidst the challenges of the immigrant experience.
- The autobiographical and immigrant context of Call It Sleep
- The symbolic structure of the novel and the motif of "The Coal"
- David Schearl’s psychological development and the Oedipal conflict
- The intersection of biblical prophecy and the protagonist's mystical visions
- The analysis of David Schearl as a potential New-World messianic figure
Excerpt from the Book
The Function of the “Isaiah Story” for David
From the beginning up to the end of the novel David is seeking for personal salvation. Thus, how to achieve redemption is the underlying theme of the novel and the ultimate goal for David. As it was said in the preceding chapter, the story of Isaiah seems to suggest a possibility of redemption to him. Like Isaiah, David feels unclean and hopes to be purified by some mystical incident. Thus on his quest for salvation the “Isaiah Story” functions as a model or an example for David. It provides him with the hope that purification can be achieved. From the very point that he gets to know this story he tries to repeat Isaiah´s experience. Therefore he postulates an “angel-coal” in “God´s cellar”. Looking for this coal becomes the major interest in his life, maybe even the sense of his life for a limited period of time. Since he tries so hard to imitate Isaiah´s experience, one gets the impression that he declares Isaiah as being his mythical hero.
Parts of the “Isaiah Story” rendered in Hebrew reappear again in the novel when David breaks into cheder school and when he experiences his final revelation. Thus the story also functions as a motif accompanying David until he is released at the end. It is an external symbol of David´s internal, psychological search.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: The paper introduces the scope of analyzing Henry Roth's novel, specifically focusing on the structure, characterization of David, and the central messianic themes.
2. General Facts about Call It Sleep and its Author Henry Roth: This chapter provides biographical background on Roth and the publication history of the novel, highlighting its status as an important work of Jewish-American immigrant literature.
3. The Structure of the Novel: The chapter explores the five-part composition of the book and the symbolic significance of the titles 'The Cellar', 'The Picture', 'The Coal', and 'The Rail'.
4. A Characterization of David Schearl: This section details David's internal fears, his creative imagination, and his complex relationship with his parents and his Jewish identity.
5. The Function of the “Isaiah Story” in Call It Sleep: The chapter analyzes the biblical roots of the Isaiah story and its integration into the novel as a primary source of David’s quest for spiritual purity.
6. David Schearl – A Hero-Messiah?: The author examines academic interpretations of David as a modern messianic figure, analyzing his mystical experiences and his search for divine light.
7. Summary: The concluding chapter synthesizes the findings, suggesting that while David's messianic quest is central, the novel equally functions as a depiction of a child’s struggle for identity within a harsh immigrant environment.
Keywords
Henry Roth, Call It Sleep, David Schearl, Isaiah Story, Jewish-American literature, immigration, redemption, symbolism, coal, messianism, mysticism, identity, childhood, Oedipal conflict, stream of consciousness.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this academic paper?
The paper examines the symbolic role of the "Isaiah Story" from the Old Testament in Henry Roth's novel Call It Sleep, focusing on how the protagonist uses this narrative to understand his own life and search for salvation.
What are the primary themes discussed in the work?
The central themes include immigrant life in New York, the psychological development of a child, the conflict between religious tradition and secular reality, and the search for personal and cultural identity.
What is the main goal or research question of the study?
The study aims to investigate whether the protagonist, David Schearl, can be interpreted as a hero-messiah figure, and how his obsession with religious purification through the "Isaiah Story" influences his psychological growth.
Which scientific methodology is applied in this analysis?
The author employs a literary analysis approach, utilizing secondary scholarly sources and critical theory to interpret the novel's symbols, autobiographical parallels, and religious motifs.
What topics are covered in the main body of the paper?
The main body covers the biographical context of Henry Roth, the structure of the novel, the characterization of David Schearl, the function of the "Isaiah Story," and the debate surrounding David's potential messianic status.
Which keywords best characterize the work?
The work is best defined by keywords such as Henry Roth, Call It Sleep, immigrant literature, symbolism, redemption, Isaiah story, and mystical initiation.
How does David's perception of the "coal" evolve throughout the novel?
Initially, David equates coal with the filth and darkness of his cellar, but after learning the Isaiah story, he attempts to reconcile this with the "purifying coal" of biblical prophecy, eventually reaching a state of visionary synthesis.
In what way does the author relate David's experience to the concept of the "New-World messiah"?
The paper cites scholarly arguments suggesting that David’s "miraculous" birth, his suffering in a time of distress, and his mystical visions mirror the attributes traditionally associated with prophets and messiahs in history.
- Quote paper
- Hendrikje Schulze (Author), 2002, The function of the Isaiah story in Henry Roth´s "Call It Sleep", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/7665
