Identidad

Welding Identity and Love Together
"The Magic Barrel" written by Bernard Malamud, it's a story is about Leo Frinkle, a rabbinical student who tries to pursue a wife so he can have a congregationafter being ordained a rabbi. Leo is going through one of the most crucial stages of his life. Having a wife does not match with Leo's plans, he has devoted himself to six intensive years of studywithout having a social life, or even thinking about a relationship with a young woman. Leo is an insecure, lonely and loveless person; however, Stella is symbolic to all Leo's changes and gives him abetter understanding of life and happiness than anyone else.
Leo's life is immerged in religion but he is unfulfilled. Leo has left behind the interaction with the society for the last six years, andnow he is looking for the woman of his life without knowing what the meaning of being loved by someone else is. Leo lives alone in his small meager room crowded with books which shows how "he haddevoted himself almost entirely to his studies, as a result he had found himself without time for a social life." Due to Leo's lack of social life he does not have acquaintances or friends to socializewith. As human beings, we are social creatures, therefore, it's a human need to have at least someone to share moments of happiness and sadness with. However, because of Leo's style of he does not havesense of direction after being isolated from normal people. Now he needs a wife. Leo does not have experience about any kind of relationship so Salzman, the expert matchmaker tells him, "This isbecause you have no experience" after rejecting the information of a young widow. This shows how Leo keeps his mind closed to his new reality. Leo keeps his attachment to his intense years of study, buthis way of thinking will be changed by Lily Hirschorn.
Leo's meeting with Lily Hirschorn leaves him even more confused about himself and the "new" external world. After Leo's interest in Lily,...