National socialism and blood-sacrifice in Zora Neale Hurston's Moses, Man of the Mountain.(Critical Essay) From: African American Review | Date: September 22, 2004| Author: Thompson, Mark Christian | COPYRIGHT 2004 African American Review. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan.  All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group.Copyright information

In Zora Neale Hurston's Moses, Man of the Mountain (1939), Pharaoh establishes his new rule of law by penetrating the Hebrew womb with his "rod of state," which is intent upon genocide:

   Pharaoh had entered the bedrooms of Israel. The birthing beds of the 
   Hebrews were matters of state. The Hebrew womb had fallen under the 
   heel of Pharaoh. A ruler great in his newness and new in his 
   greatness had arisen in Egypt and he had said, "This is law. Hebrew 
   boys sha...