In our character analysis essay, we shall consider a character by the name of Moishe the Beadle. The reason why I choose Moishe the Beadle is because of his role in the book. Also, what I like about Moishe the Beadle is the fact that his ethics reverberate throughout the script, despite the fact that he vanishes after the first few pages in my point of view. I identify with the character on the level of religion and faith as a Christian who has strong ethical values and believes in the existence of God. I believe that God is omnipresent and omnipotent. He is the most superior being, and He is everlasting. Physically, Moishe the Beadle was as weird as a clown, and his delicate, shy nature made folks smile. In addition to that feature, he had wide, dreamy eyes that gazed off into the distance.
People of Transylvania used to refer to him as Moishe the Beadle, and this was as if he never had a last name. Moishe was the jack-of-all-trades (a shtibl) within the Hasidic dynasty of prayer. Majority of the Jews of Sighet a small city in Transylvania were fond of him. Moishe the Beadle was a poor lad who survived in absolute poverty. As a rule, as the people of the town helped the penurious, they never liked them, but surprisingly, Moishe the Beadle was the only exemption. “He stayed out of people’s way”. His existence was not a bother to anyone since he had learnt the skill of representing himself imperceptible and inconsequential. According to this example, it is factual to say that Moishe the Beadle was an introvert. This is because he never wanted to associate himself with other people; he stayed alone and out of the way of people. Also, as much as he was living in absolute poverty, he was a wise man.
By avoiding contact with many people, he reduced the possibility of colliding with people or even being a liability to the community in which he lived. Moishe the Beadle was an intelligent man. One evening, Eliezer told him that she was unhappy since she could not find a master to teach her the secrets of the Jewish mysticism, the Zohar, and the Kabbalistic works. Moishe smiled, and after a period of silence, he replied, “There are a thousand and one gates allowing entry into the orchard of the mythical truth. Every human being has his gate. He must not interfere with or err to enter the orchard through a gate other than his own. That would present danger not only for the one entering but also for those who are already inside.” The response indicated that Moishe was a brilliant chap, after listening to Eliezer’s plead, he does not jump to conclusions, but he took his time and figured out for the most appropriate response.
One day, as Eliezer was entering the temple, she saw Moishe seated on the bench at the entrance. Moishe elucidated to her all that had transpired. As the train carrying the outcasts traversed the boundary of Hungary and reached the terrain of the Polish, the train was stopped. The Jewish people were commanded to alight and wait in the Lorries. Later on, the Lorries began their convoy into the forest, and once they reached their destination, the Jews were forced to dig large trenches. As soon as they were done, the men from the Gestapo began to shoot their prisoners. Luckily, after all the drama, Moishe, the Beadle, managed to escape. This event happened in the Galician forest, near a place known as Kolomay.
After this incident, Moishe became a different person. “The joy in his eyes was gone. He no longer sang. He no longer mentioned Kabbalah or God.” Moishe began only to speak about what he saw. Unfortunately, folks refused to have faith in him, and they also refused to give him an audience. This change is of importance to the character since he is now able to see the reality of life and how things were. He had a new definition of faith, as he believed that he was saved from death miraculously.
Towards the end of the novel, Moishe becomes more silent and is afraid of talking. He would wander through the streets or the synagogue, eyes cast down, hunched over, and avoiding peoples’ stares. The horrifying accident that Moishe witnessed with his own bare eyes tormented him. The incident was a combination of the Nazi’s lack of humanity and the emotional bight he experienced in the hands of the people he considered as friends and his townspeople. This made Moishe the Beadle leave Sighet and run away, hence leaving the people of the town into their cruel destiny. In my opinion, this change was for the worse. This is because Moishe’s life changed completely, and he now became like a crazy man. The majority of the people began to think that the only thing he needed was pity, while others thought that he imagined his things.
Finally, the lesson I have learnt from the experience of the character is the fact that life is very unfair, and society will not always be on your side during times of trials. I am disappointed and, at the same time, sorrowful about what Moishe has been through. He escapes death by a whisker, but when he comes back to warn the people of Sighet, they reject his message and assume that he is just a madman. Moishe has been through a lot, and all he deserved was for the people to believe in him, regardless of his social status.
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