This essay discusses two ways in which scholars have interpreted Joshua Sobol's play "Ghetto" (originally published 1989). It outlines the problems that arise from each interpretation of the play, but also discusses how and why scholars came to those interpretations.
The derived conclusion from placing these two interpretations in conversation with each other is that Sobol may have been trying to both give an historical recount of the horrors experienced in the Jewish Ghettos set up by the Nazis, and giving subtle critique on how the Israeli government is treating its Palestinian neighbours. While this essay does not aim to provide definitive conclusions as to what Sobol's motives were behind the writing of "Ghetto", it certainly opens up discussions on how historical contexts can affect the way in which the message of a play or performance is perceived and interpreted.
Table of Contents
1. Institutionalisation in Joshua Sobol’s Ghetto
Research Objectives and Themes
The primary objective of this paper is to critically examine Freddie Rokem’s argument that Joshua Sobol’s play Ghetto serves as an allegory for the current Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The research explores whether the moral dilemmas faced by the Jewish Ghetto Police in Vilna can be historically or ethically compared to the actions and motivations of the Zionist movement and the Israeli state, while investigating the psychological impacts of institutionalisation.
- Analysis of Freddie Rokem’s allegorical interpretation of the play.
- Historical examination of the Vilna Ghetto and the role of the Jewish Ghetto Police.
- Contextual study of the origins and radical ideologies of the Zionist movement.
- Comparison of moral dilemmas and power structures between Nazi-occupied ghettos and the Israeli-Palestinian situation.
- Evaluation of the psychological effects of institutionalised oppression on future generations.
Excerpt from the Book
Institutionalisation in Joshua Sobol’s Ghetto
It has been argued by Freddie Rokem that Joshua Sobol’s play, Ghetto (1989) – a play which depicts the plight of Jewish people in the Vilna Ghetto during World War II – can be read as an allegory for the current political situation in Israel (45). His argument suggests that Israeli people are in danger of becoming what their earlier persecutors – the Nazis p had become during World War II, and that Sobol’s play carries the implied notion that the persecution of Palestinians in Israel mirrors the same plight that their persecutors suffered beforehand (Rokem 45‐47). While such an interpretation can be placed upon this play, it becomes problematic when it is compared with the historical context upon which the play is based.
For one thing, the Israeli people today live under very different circumstances to the ones in which the play itself is based, and are therefore not faced with the same dilemmas that Jewish people in World War II had to face. This in particular includes the members of the Jewish Ghetto Police force, who were faced with the difficult situation of choosing which of their people should die so that others might live under Nazi surveillance. Such a situation as this cannot be compared with the political situation in Israel, as the persecution of Palestinian people did not occur as a result of Israelis being pressured form a higher, more oppressive regime to carry out such persecution.
Summary of Chapters
1. Institutionalisation in Joshua Sobol’s Ghetto: This section introduces the research, evaluates the allegorical connection between the historical setting of the Vilna Ghetto and contemporary Israeli politics, and outlines the methodology of comparing the historical realities of the Holocaust with the development of Zionist ideology.
Keywords
Joshua Sobol, Ghetto, Vilna Ghetto, Freddie Rokem, Zionism, Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Holocaust, Jewish Ghetto Police, Judenrat, institutionalisation, moral dilemma, Nazi occupation, collective memory, political allegory, historical context.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this academic paper?
The paper focuses on evaluating the claim that Joshua Sobol’s play Ghetto serves as an allegory for the contemporary Israeli-Palestinian conflict, specifically regarding the moral responsibilities of those in power.
What are the central themes discussed in the text?
The central themes include the historical reality of the Holocaust, the origins and ideologies of the Zionist movement, the nature of moral choice under duress, and the psychological legacy of institutionalisation.
What is the primary research question?
The primary research question addresses whether the moral dilemmas faced by the Jewish Ghetto Police in the Vilna Ghetto are comparable to the political and military actions taken by Israel in the Palestinian territories.
Which methodology does the author use?
The author uses a comparative analysis, examining both the text of the play Ghetto and historical documentation regarding the Vilna Ghetto and the rise of the Zionist movement to test the validity of an allegorical interpretation.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body covers the political history of Zionism, the specific role of Jacob Gens and the Ghetto Police, the nature of Nazi supervision in Eastern European ghettos, and the psychological arguments regarding why oppressed people may adopt the methods of their oppressors.
Which keywords characterize this work?
Key terms include Ghetto, Zionism, Holocaust, institutionalisation, moral dilemmas, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
How does the author view Jacob Gens' role in the play?
The author views Gens as a complex figure whose actions, while seemingly similar to those of his persecutors, were forced upon him under the extreme, life-or-death scrutiny of the Nazi regime.
What distinction does the author make between the Nazi Ghetto and the Israeli state?
The author argues that the Jewish Ghetto Police were under direct, coercive Nazi supervision, whereas the actions of the Israeli state were not born from similar, immediate life-threatening pressure by a higher, more oppressive regime.
What conclusion does the author reach regarding Rokem’s allegory?
The author suggests that while Rokem’s interpretation has some validity, it is problematic because it ignores the significant differences in historical circumstances and the lack of external coercive pressure on the Israeli state.
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- Raymond Teodo (Autor:in), 2012, Institutionalisation in Joshua Sobol's "Ghetto", München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/966040
