Actantial model of Judith, a key to unlocking its possible purpose: A Greimassian contribution

Abstract

The goal of this article is to investigate the possible purpose of the Greek apocryphal book of Judith. The investigation of the possible purpose of Judith has attracted the interest of many scholars and varying contributions have appeared in this regard. The impetus for a yet another investigation of Judith grows from the contention that the question of the possible purpose of Judith is still wide open for exploration. This study attempts to make a unique contribution by using a Greimassian approach to narratives, which no Judith scholar has ever attempted. This approach comprises three levels of analysis : the figurative, the narrative and the thematic. This article focuses only on the narrative level, particularly the actantial model of the story. This article contends that following the study of the actantial model of Judith, it becomes clear that the Judith narrative was aimed at revitalising Jewish religious patriotism during the difficult times of the Second Temple period.