Historical Context
Bernard Malamud's story, "The Magic Barrel," was initially published in the Partisan Review in 1954 and later included as the title story in Malamud’s first short fiction collection in 1958. The period between these two dates was marked by significant events in American history. In 1954, the United States Supreme Court unanimously ruled against segregation in the landmark case of Brown v. Board of Education, declaring that separate classrooms or schools for black and white students were unconstitutional.
Also in 1954, Senator Joseph McCarthy was censured by the Senate for wrongfully accusing numerous Americans of being communists. Then, in 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik, the first satellite to successfully orbit the Earth, raising fears that the Soviets might dominate space exploration.
Although "The Magic Barrel" contains few specific historical or topical references to pinpoint its exact timeline, one detail indicates that Leo's encounter with Salzman takes place around the mid-1950s, aligning with the story's publication date. Leo Finkle is nearing the completion of his six-year rabbinical studies at New York City's Yeshivah University. The term Yeshivah, which means a place of study in Hebrew, refers to the oldest and most prestigious Jewish institution of higher learning in the United States. Although its origins date back to 1886, the institution was not officially named Yeshivah University until 1945, following a revision of its charter. Given the traditional six-year study period to become a rabbi, Leo would likely be contemplating marriage in the early 1950s.
By seeking a professional matchmaker to find a bride, Leo is behaving more like his immigrant grandparents than a typical American Jew of the 1950s. In Yiddish, the language spoken by many Jewish communities in Europe and America, the word for "matchmaker" is shadchen (pronounced shod-hun). Before the seventeenth century, the shadchen was a highly esteemed individual responsible for ensuring the continuity of the Jewish people through arranged marriages. However, as Jewish communities in Europe expanded and modern secular ideas of romantic love spread, professional matchmakers became less reputable and often the target of satire and ridicule. This sentiment is encapsulated by the Yiddish writer Sholom Aleichem (1859–1916), who humorously described the shadchen as "a dealer in livestock."
Nonetheless, the shadchen tradition endured through Jewish immigration to the United States. In his account of Jewish immigrant life on New York City's Lower East Side, World of Our Fathers, Irving Howe portrays the typical shadchen as reminiscent of Malamud’s Pinye Salzman: “Affecting an ecclesiastic bearing, the matchmaker wore a somber black suit with a half-frock effect, a silk yarmulke (skullcap), a full beard.” According to Howe, the matchmaker “customarily received 5 percent of the dowry in addition to a flat fee, neither one nor both enough to make him rich.”
Pinye Salzman is, in many respects, a stereotypical character who has transitioned from the realm of Jewish oral humor into the pages of Malamud’s story. By seeking the shadchen’s assistance in the 1950s, Leo reveals himself as not only formal but also a very old-fashioned young man.
Style and Technique
Point of View
The narrative style in Bernard Malamud’s "The Magic Barrel" is characterized by
its third person limited point of view. This technique allows the story to
unfold through the lens of Leo Finkle, without him actually narrating it. The
narrator, external to the events, employs pronouns such as "he," "she," and
"they" to refer to the characters, effectively maintaining a distance while
offering deep insight into Leo's personal experiences and perceptions. By
focusing on Leo's viewpoint, the author crafts an intimate yet expansive view
of his internal struggles and interactions, drawing readers into the emotional
core of the narrative.
Symbolism
Symbolism is...
(This entire section contains 424 words.)
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woven intricately into the fabric of "The Magic Barrel," enhancing its thematic depth. One of the most compelling symbols is the transition from winter to spring, mirroring Leo's own journey towards renewal. The story opens in February with "winter on its last legs," suggesting a period of emotional dormancy in Leo's life. By the end, the narrative reaches "one spring night," as Leo approaches Stella Salzman under a street lamp, symbolizing his emotional and spiritual awakening. This seasonal progression underscores the transformative process Leo undergoes, highlighting his efforts to evolve and embrace new aspects of his identity.
Idiom
The use of idiom in "The Magic Barrel" adds a rich layer of cultural texture to
the story, particularly through the character of Pinye Salzman, the matchmaker.
While the narrator and most characters converse in standard English, Salzman’s
dialogue is peppered with Yiddish influences. Yiddish, derived from medieval
German and written in Hebrew script, was historically the lingua franca of many
European Jewish communities. It provides a vivid cultural backdrop to the
narrative, illustrating the multifaceted identities of Jewish immigrants who
navigated different languages in their daily lives. In recent decades, Yiddish
has waned in prevalence, yet Malamud’s characters continue to speak it,
preserving its unique linguistic flavor.
Salzman's speech offers readers a glimpse into the rhythmic intonations of Yiddish-inflected English. His questions and exclamations—such as, "A glass tea you got, rabbi?" and "What can I say to somebody that he is not interested in school teachers?"—resonate with the cadences of a language rich in historical context. Even as Yiddish faces the threat of extinction, reflected in the post-World War II decline among Jewish communities in Europe and North America, Malamud immortalizes its essence through characters like Salzman. His expressions, laden with idiomatic flair, deepen the cultural resonance of the story, allowing readers to experience the vivid interplay of language and identity in the world Malamud paints.
Compare and Contrast
1950s: Decades of immigration from both Eastern and Western Europe have resulted in a significant Jewish population within the United States. Numerous American cities boast strong and vibrant Jewish communities. However, discrimination against Jewish individuals persists.
1990s: Due to intermarriage and assimilation, many within the Jewish community feel that Jewish culture is at risk. Despite ongoing discrimination in the United States, many organizations are actively combating misinformation and prejudice against Jews.
1950s: The Jewish matchmaker, known as the ‘‘shadchen,’’ plays a crucial role in the community. Although arranged marriages are becoming less common among Jewish families, they remain a viable option for young Jewish men and women.
1990s: Matchmaking is largely seen as an outdated practice. It is predominantly utilized in orthodox Jewish communities, as other social opportunities enable Jewish men and women to meet and find potential marriage partners.
Bibliography
Sources
Antin, Mary. The Promised Land, originally published in 1912, reprinted in New York by Penguin, 1997.
Cahan, Abraham. The Rise of David Levinsky, first released in 1917, reprinted in New York by Harper’s, 1960.
Cramer, Carmen. "The Americanization of Leo Finkle," in Cyahoga Review, Vol. 1, No. 2, Fall 1983, pp. 143–147.
Hoffer, Bates. "The Magic in Malamud’s Barrel," in Linguistics in Literature, Vol. 2, No. 3, 1977, pp. 1–26.
Miller, Theodore C. "The Minister and the Whore: An Examination of Bernard Malamud’s ‘The Magic Barrel,’" in Studies in the Humanities, Vol. 3, 1972, pp. 43-44.
Reynolds, Richard. "'The Magic Barrel': Pinye Salzman’s Kadish," in Studies in Short Fiction, Vol. 10, circa 1973, pp. 100–102.
Richman, Sidney. Bernard Malamud, Twayne, 1966.
Yezierska, Anzia. Bread Givers, first published in 1925, reprinted in New York by Persea Books, 1975.
Further Reading
Astro, Richard and Jackson Benson, eds. The Fiction of Bernard Malamud, Oregon State University Press, 1977. Offers a comprehensive study of Malamud’s short stories and novels.
Field, Leslie A. and Joyce W. Field, eds. Bernard Malamud: A Collection of Critical Essays, Prentice-Hall, 1974. Discusses various facets of Malamud’s writing.
Meeter, Glenn. Bernard Malamud and Philip Roth: A Critical Essay, Eerdmans, 1968. Analyzes the two authors within the context of Jewish literature.
Pinsker, Sanford. "The Achievement of Bernard Malamud," in Midwest Quarterly, Vol. 10, July 1969, pp. 379-389. Provides an evaluation of Malamud’s literary career.
Richman, Sidney. Bernard Malamud, Twayne, 1966. Offers a thorough overview of Malamud’s life and works.
