Esther
Esther 5:9-16:7
Donald Jackson
Scribe: Sue Hufton
Vellum, with ink, paint and gold
"In the Jewish tradition,
Esther is a redeemer figure.
The near brush with extinction,
which the Jews in the story
underwent at Haman's hand,
underwent at Haman's hand,
has made this story the lens through
which may interpret the Holocaust.
As Queen, Esther's access to King Ahasuerus
allowed her to be the savior and protector
of the Jews in the face of the evil conspiracies
of Haman. In one conspiracy, Haman expects
that the gallows ordered will be used for Mordecai
(a Jewish man who offended him).
In a reversal of events, however, Haman's evil schemes
cause him to be hanged from
that very same gibbet instead.
This illustration aims to show the duality
of Esther and her two different lives.
On the one hand is her life as a beautiful
young Jewish woman,
as faithful to her heritage
as she is to her consign Mordecai.
O the other hand is her life of power
as the Queen of Persia arrayed in all
her regal trappings and surrounded
by ancient Persian gold artifacts.
This tension between the two conflicting identities
of Esther can be seen in the different
emotional cast to the eyes.
The Empress is confident in her world of position,
whereas the humble Jewish woman betrays fear,
apprehension, wisdom and bravery."
Esther's full plat of roles
is certainly a role model
for the women of this time and age too.
As Queen, Esther's access to King Ahasuerus
allowed her to be the savior and protector
of the Jews in the face of the evil conspiracies
of Haman. In one conspiracy, Haman expects
that the gallows ordered will be used for Mordecai
(a Jewish man who offended him).
In a reversal of events, however, Haman's evil schemes
cause him to be hanged from
that very same gibbet instead.
This illustration aims to show the duality
of Esther and her two different lives.
On the one hand is her life as a beautiful
young Jewish woman,
as faithful to her heritage
as she is to her consign Mordecai.
O the other hand is her life of power
as the Queen of Persia arrayed in all
her regal trappings and surrounded
by ancient Persian gold artifacts.
This tension between the two conflicting identities
of Esther can be seen in the different
emotional cast to the eyes.
The Empress is confident in her world of position,
whereas the humble Jewish woman betrays fear,
apprehension, wisdom and bravery."
Esther's full plat of roles
is certainly a role model
for the women of this time and age too.
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