Between God and Beast: An Examination of Amos Oz’s Prose - Hardcover

Balaban, Avraham

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0271008512 ISBN 13: 9780271008516

Publisher: Penn State University Press, 1993

Synopsis

In Between God and Beast, Avraham Balaban argues that Oz's fiction has, from the outset, followed Jung's psychological theory. The major psychic processes that are depicted throughout Oz's prose are typically Jungian. For example, the treasure hunt, which is the deep structure of many of Oz's stories and novels, reflects the search for the "self" in which all the vying forces of one's psyche coexist peacefully. Oz uses many of the symbols of the treasure as well as of the self as they are presented by Jung. Many of the symbols examined in this study have never before been discussed in articles about Oz's writings.

Balaban also devotes a considerable portion of his study to the religious dimension of Oz's work as well as the impact of his personal life on his writings. Balaban reveals that from the beginning Oz's work has moved in two directions: it demonstrates an unceasing effort to delve ever deeper into the dark side of consciousness while heightening the contrast between the opposing elements vying within his protagonists; and it consistently attempts to bring those oppositions to peaceful coexistence and even to a fruitful mutual relationship.

About this title

About the Author:

Avraham Balaban is Professor of Modern Hebrew Literature at the University of Florida and author of several books in Hebrew.

Language Notes:

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Hebrew

About this edition

• Publisher: Penn State University Press
• Publication date: 1993
• ISBN 10: 0271008512
• ISBN 13: 9780271008516
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 268