A Murderer Divine

by Farzana Moon



Link to Act I

Link to Act II

Painting
Judith
Courtesy of Michael Lackner
Link to Act III

Link to Act IV



A Murderer Divine is a full-length play based on the apocryphal story of Judith, a widow from Bethulia -- revered as a saint in her lifetime. Judith's story is recorded in the Catholic canon, but not included in the other Bibles. In this play she is depicted as a woman with moods and passions; her valor and caprice making her the winner -- not her piety and prayers, though virtuous she remains amidst the hilarity of her own wit and wisdom. Holofernes, the Assyrian general of Nebuchadnezzar, also wise and valorous, is captivated by the wit and charms of Judith; not only losing his head in reveries, but from his shoulders also. Drunk with wine, lust and desire, he is murdered by the pious widow while still welcoming sweet dreams in sleep. The resurrection of Judith as a true saint and of Holofernes as an honorable general in this play, challenge neither the Apocrypha, nor the divine intervention of God, but fulfill the dreams of Nebuchadnezzar where the Assyrians lay vanquished, and the Israelites rise as victors.



www.utoronto.ca/wjudaism/
this page last updated on: 5/14/00
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