The moral growth through prison motif

감옥 모티프를 통한 도덕적 성숙

This study attempts to survey the moral growth through prison motif. Malamud deals with the theme of suffering deeply. To learn love accompanied by suffering is the way to be moral and therefore suffering becomes Malamud's main concern. The hardship from suffering and love by trial leads Frank and Yakov to guest of selves. Through this their erotic impulses are changed into caritas. Malamud portrays Frank as a schlemiel. Like Malamud's other heroes he is also born to suffering, conditioned by it, and ultimately finds the meaning of his life in learning to deal with it. At last he carries the burden of supporting Helen and Ida. As a result, Frank becomes a social failure but a moral success as traditional American Adam. The prison motif is a rather strong function of setting symbolism in The Fixer. Yakov is imprisoned for a heinous crime that he did not commit. Yakov experiences hard physical and spiritual pains in prison for two and half years. His bitter suffering has matured him, changed him into a man with love, sacrifice and responsibility for others. At last he returns a true Jew and good man with perfect spirit.