Body and space in Judith: a Greimassian perspective

Abstract

The book of Judith (Judith) has been studied by various scholars employing a range of methods with intriguing results. There is, however, a gap in scholarship regarding the use of body and space in Judith. This paper attempts a literary study of Judith using a Greimassian semiotic perspective, focusing on figurative analysis. It appears that no other scholar working on Judith has ever focused on the story using a Greimassian approach. Following this approach has yielded some surprising results. I contend that actorialization and spatialization play an important role in saving the Jewish people and their religion from impending extinction by the Assyrians. Subsequently, the article addresses the challenge of ethical limits and implications of the use of the body and space in advancing religious ambitions.