Week 2 Post 2 - Wisniewski

Wisniewski, D. (1996). Golem.  New York: Clarion.

Golem is in the genre of the week Picture Books – Children Reading (to 4^th or 5^th Grade) because it could be effectively used at the high end of the spectrum, i.e. 4^th to 5^th Grade. Its symbolism and multicultural and mythic underpinning – all conceptual – are easily within the grasp of these 9 to 10 year old readers. It also connects to their sense of fairness and desire to see the underdog – the kid getting bullied like many of them are – finally get the upper hand.

Unlike the Eastman book which is purely and simply meant to increase young readers’ vocabulary in a non-threatening, gentle and fun way without any heavy concepts lurking in the background, Golem delivers powerful messages: First, IT IS possible for the oppressed to become the oppressor and second more and troubling what does new found power mean to the new oppressor?

To deliver the punch of his narrative, Wisniewski uses a primitive and folk style like woodblock for his characters to clearly impress upon adolescent readers the agelessness of this kind of conflict. Second the dark color and stark tones of both the figures and the background emphasize the seriousness of these events. Finally, he uses a two dimensional diorama or cut out approach to the gentiles. They are pieces of paper in ones of those paper-cut theaters. This visual effect takes away their depth, emasculating them and making them conquerable. 

Finally, Wisniewski not only presents the concept of oppression between one group of another but the more complex concept that the agent – the Golem – of the Jew’s thwarting and ultimately dominating the Gentiles in Prague is internally conflicted by his taste of life and new found desire to not be returned to earth from whence he came. The plot builds to the climax of the Golem begging at the end to not be returned to earth and the Rabbi’s responding by erasing the “e” of “emet” or Truth on the Golem’s forehead and turning it into  “met” meaning Death. 

The Big Question: Why couldn’t the rabbi allow the Golem to remain alive? Does the gaining of power have to corrupt those gaining it? Is that what the Rabbi feared?