Thoughts Toward 'The Slave'

While I was reading 'The Slave' by: Isaac Singer, I noticed the word 'slave' did not appear in the text as much as I had originally thought. When I first started reading the text, I assumed Jacob was going to be treated so badly by who ever held authority. But all of my preconceived thoughts were wrong. In my opinion, Jacob was not treated that unfairly nor was he deprived of freedoms. He slept comfortably in a barn and even established a relationship with the surrounding farm animals. There were several instances in the book when Jacob would talk to the cows. Singer would describe the cows as looking obediently at Jacob and acting as if they understood him. He was to work with the animals and work in the fields. While Jacob was in captivity, he also met the one and only love of his life, Wanda. However after getting deeply involved, the relationship quickly heightens and Jacob commits a sin he vowed never to do. He fornicates. He had sex with Wanda out of passion and love but he broke a major commandment. Perhaps this story represents another episode of the 'fall of mankind'? It's interesting to note that shortly after Jacob breaks his vow, his escape plan finally comes through. Jacob is cast away. According to Wanda, she believed Jacob was taken by devils when he randomly disappeared. From the Christian perspective, especially one similar to the one portrayed in this story, the jews were looked at as representing the 'other'. I would imagine the 'other' was perceived as symbolizing a type of evil. I thought it was interesting how Jacob returns to the village during the night. To me this symbolized a greater meaning which meant Jacob contained aspects of evil. The binary between night and evil is a convention often associated with Hell. Then immediately after the two ditch the village, they enter a cave. After reading Northrop Frye's book, 'Words with Power', he discusses the cave. Discussing the cave as a literary symbol, it connects with the idea of a dreadful abyss. This is also a symbol of Hell. I discussed this in my paper and in class but it is at this point that Wanda morphs into another identity. Perhaps Sarah is the evil representation of Wanda? She assumes the roll of a mute and has to persevere through all the ridicule and rude shit people say to her and behind her back. Unfortunately, Sarah does break her roll. This happens during childbirth. This scene captures two realities of rebirth. One involving the rebirth of Wanda and the second involving her baby's birth. The ending of this story was powerful. Dumb Sarah was not marked in a grave...nor was her actual burial place remembered. Yet Jacob's deceased body is buried next to Wanda's. I view these two as soul mates. But looking deeper, I see this story as a repeated story from the Bible. Jacob even admits this on his death bed that he is a living symbol of the Biblical version of Jacob.