Hypocrisy

One of the major themes in this novel is the idea of the way that hypocritical thinking and behavior can affect members of a community and/or a religious organization. A hypocrite is generally assumed to be someone who claims to have high moral standards but does not act like a person of those high moral standards should act. Although they do not realize it at first, the women of Memphis are highly hypocritical. Instead of welcoming Batsheva into their community, the gossip about her and choose to dislike her because she is different. They criticize her ways of dressing and believe her manner is too provocative. They also find fault with her because she sits too near the front of the shul and sings too loudly.

Meanwhile, the women of Memphis are struggling with fatigue from their years of celebrations and festivals in which they no longer...