Kabbalistic feminism in Agnon's 'Betrothed.' (S.Y. Agnon) From: Judaism: A Quarterly Journal of Jewish Life andThought | Date: September 22, 1993| Author: Bodoff, Lippman | COPYRIGHT 1993 American Jewish Congress. 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

S.Y. Agnon's novel 'Betrothed' symbolises the struggle to establish a Jewish identity in the culture of Israel. Jewish heroine, Shoshanah competes against six secular women to win Jacob who is largely a bystander in the action. The struggle represents the conflict between tradition and modern culture in the creation of a Jewish homeland. Shoshanah must pursue Jacob to reaffirm the betroathal made in their youth because he is incapable of chosing between a Jewish or secular lifestyle.

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