In recent years, it has been impossible to discuss the career of Bernard Malamud without mentioning his place as the second partner, along with Bellow and Roth, in the ruling triumvirate of Jewish- American literature, which Bellow has called the Hart, S...

Bernard Malamud , along with Saul Bellow and Philip Roth, holds a preeminence among Jewish American writers that has consistently been reaffirmed by recent critical assessments. Early in Malamud criticism, Alfred Kazin and Leslie Fiedler acknowledged the...

In recent years, it has been impossible to discuss the career of Bernard Malamud without mentioning his place as the second partner, along with Bellow and Roth, in the ruling triumvirate of Jewish-American literature, which Bellow has called the Hart, Sc...

If you look back at the history of firearms all the way back to the 12th or 13th century when it all started, you won't find too many Eureka! moments. Instead you'll see a process of gentle evolution where one discovery leads to...

The scheming matchmaker in Bernard Malamud's 'The Magic Barrel' is able manipulate one young man into marrying his daughter through natural means, and not with the magical prowess which other critics have attributed to the character. Initially, Salzman the matchmaker attempts to disguise his...

In the following essay, Dessner discusses Malamud's self-conscious blending of fairy tale motifs and elements of realism in "The Magic Barrel" and the story's resultant ambiguity, irony, and playfulness.

In the following excerpt, Hoffer stresses the need to seriously consider the religious overtones and allusions of "The Magic Barrel," identifying parallels between the first five books of the Old Testament and the structure of the story and arguing that Finkle is a "sinner" rather than a hero.

In the essay below, Adler interprets the interaction between Salzman and Finkle as a father-son relationship that culminates in Finkle's reintegration into the Jewish community.

Man may find fulfillment through struggle, suffering, and self-knowledge, but happiness requires self-delusion and belief in self-destiny and choice. Leo Finkle is a testament to this being the human predicament in "The Magic Barrel," a short story by Bernard Malamud. The following analysis describes Leo's fulfillment through struggle and then discusses his happiness through self-destiny and choice.