The Woman in “Susanna”. An Understanding of the Rhetoric of “Susanna”

Abstract

The text of Susanna is clearly about a woman and she is even called by her name and not only mentioned in general. Susanna is a definite central character in this story, not only for her identity as a Jewish woman or as a woman, but her specific identity as Susanna, the wife of Joachim. It is striking, however, that it is hard to really hear Susanna's voice in this story about “Susanna”. What one hears instead, is the narrator's ideas of Susanna, his interpretation of her story, his opinions, and ideas of women in general. It is not possible to feel Susanna's pain, her fears, to hear her heart, or to understand her questions, views, experiences and opinions. As the story develops, some changes occur. The questions asked in this article are whether this character of Susanna ever got a voice in this story, whether there really is a development of change in Susanna's role as woman, her power in public, what the rhetoric of the text is, how this text contributes to people's understanding of the role of women in society, whether this text has a potential power to influence its readers in their thinking about women. It is argued that the character of Susanna is not really a plausible character in this text as she is reduced to a passive human being, simply living her life fearing God, being religious and submissive to men in society and to God. The text of Susanna seems to have the power to create women like Susanna—virtuous, God-fearing women, obedient to the tradition of a patriarchal world. The text creates women like these as it encourages and praises the conduct of Susanna. The main purpose of this text is rather to show that God answers the prayers of righteous people and that He can change situations—that He hates unrighteousness in society. In this particular society, however, unrighteousness was not discrimination against women, but rather corruption and the misuse of social power. This text does not demonstrate a corrective on the role of women in society—there is no line in the story reflecting change in women's roles. Patriarchy is solid in this text!