How does the structure of the story of Joseph enhance the impact of the narrative - Essay Example

Part 4: How does the structure of the story of Joseph (Genesis 37-47) enhance the impact of the narrative? The story of Joseph begins with a biographical summary common to all major stories narrated in the Book of Genesis. The entire story is structured in a traditional or basic story-telling pattern that has a beginning, climax and an end (Humphrey 2). Employing a combination of literary devices, the writer has effectively maintained the pace of the story and interest of the readers by outlining the characters and events that are most significant and play a big role in each chapter as the story transitions from one circumstance to another. Most stories in the Bible, especially in the Old Testament, are in the form of narration. Stories have been used by writers and prophets as a tool to deliver or to convey a message to their readers/listeners (Bar-Efrat 7). Traditional narrative stories are structured according to four plot elements. The first element that should be taken into consideration is the exposition in the story. A lot of the information provided in the story of Joseph was directly relevant to the outcome of the story. . Second is the complication, the catalyst that starts a major conflict in the story. This is where the writer gets the readers to be more interested in the story. For instance, there are complications in the issue of selling Joseph to the Midianites merchants: “Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt” (Genesis 37: 28) and in the imprisonment of Joseph due to falsified accusation against him by Potiphar’s wife: “And Josephs master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the kings prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison” (Genesis 39: 20). Third is the climax of the story. This is the part where each character plays a role to resolve the conflict. The climax in Joseph story is when he luckily finds his way into the Pharaoh’s palace (Dimont 22). And finally the resolution, which most likely are the final events that turn out to be the result of each character’s action and decisions. And in the case of Joseph, it is the painful re-union with his entire family that turns out to be the resolution in his story. In the light of the four elements described above, Joseph’s story is very well structured, but the impact of the story is further enhanced by the use of literary styles and concepts. And because of the different literary techniques and approaches in structuring stories, it is possible to make long stories short without compromising the context or message of the story. Joseph’s story is composed of several short chapters, with different events relevant to the context of how his dream was made a reality. The structure of the story was well sequenced from the day that Joseph told his dream to his brothers and his father, until the time of his father’s death. This made it easier for readers to follow through (Moore 10). The principle of being economical in writing, which makes a full or long story short by selecting a few number of events and chapters that would still be in connection with the whole message the writer wants to deliver, is right at work here. It is very effective in showing the major highlights that are relevant to the story of Joseph; it also points out the parts in the story that are associated to the story’s moralistic views (Hamilton 461). There are some parts of the story where two or more literary devices are incorporated to give the readers a better picture of the events and effectively deliver the message. One good example of the combination is the part when Joseph tells his dream. He tells or explains the dream in a straightforward manner. At the same time, the writer uses the economic style to let the readers know about it. Because not all the details of what happened in the dream are described. For instance, the time, place and events that lead to that specific scenario of Joseph’s dream are not told. The writer makes this part one of the highlights of the story. This transitions the reader’s attention to focus on the detail of Joseph becoming a ruler. This has a big relevance in the latter part of the story. To further put emphasis on that particular detail, another dream is mentioned in the story that will lead to Joseph’s brothers envying him. There is a great emphasis on the first part of the story, which are Joseph’s dreams. And the succeeding events of the story are structured on how that dream came to be a reality. The first event is the plot on Joseph’s life by his brothers, and how one brother tries to stop them from spilling the blood of Joseph. This is followed by the time when the caravan of the Midianite merchants passed by on their way to Egypt, and a few details on how Joseph is sold by his brothers. This is where the first part of the story ends, transitioning to the events that happen to Joseph in the land of Egypt. This will be another highlight of the story, and it will latter on be very relevant in the story’s ending or resolution. Joseph’s story follows a sequence of verbs which describe vivid actions that are significant to understanding the motives behind the actions of all the major characters in the story (Kellogg 32). The transition of the story and how it is structured are very direct on how the purpose of each chapter would be manifested in the outcome of the story. The writer still uses the economic style and direct style in the second chapter of the story. When Joseph is serving one of the Pharaoh’s officials, his master leaves Joseph in charge of all he owns and his household. An incident between Joseph and his master’s wife is highlighted by the writer, and again, this event in the second chapter will have a big relevance on the outcome of the story. But before that incident happened, the writer uses rapid summary that will inform the readers the motive for that event to happen. In this part, the writer characterizes Joseph by using his physical appearance. Another character is also described by the writer, the master’s wife. Then, there is a description of how the master’s wife noticed him and the context of the action during that event. This was on the latter part of Verse 6-7, Genesis 39: “Joseph was well-built and handsome, and after a while his masters wife took notice of Joseph and said, "Come to bed with me!". The writer describes Joseph based on his physical appearance, and another character, the master’s wife, that plays a big role in the transition of the story. She is described according to her status and her relationship to Joseph being his master’s wife. The cause of the event that happened had something to do with the physical appearance of Joseph which leads to the involvement of another character who is relevant in the sequence of the story. However, that character is only characterized as the master’s wife because details about her will have no relevance in the story’s chapter. Even if there is no other description of her, it is acceptable since her part is not that important in understanding the context of the story. A factor, though, that helps in the transition of the story is her decision to get Joseph out of lust (Jeansonne 107). The action in this part that would lead to the story in the next chapter is lust. In this part, the master’s wife suggests to Joseph to sleep with her but Joseph refuses to do so. The writer narrates the story by focusing on the actions of characters and not of the cause itself. In the writer’s point of view, the characters’ actions will be a great tool on explaining why that event had come to place rather than explaining the cause to the readers as this may deviate their attention from the story and the writer’s intended message. The morals or lessons of this chapter are honesty and respect. There is nothing written that Joseph ever takes a stand to defend himself or rather be furious and hates his master and his master’s household. Despite Joseph’s honesty and respect for his master, and considering the actions that he makes in this event to keep his master’s trust, there is never a part of the story saying that Joseph has been angered by this event. This is because the writer is also suggesting that one of the morals of the story which is shown by the actions of the character Joseph is forgiveness (Boadt 109). Hyperbole is a concept or literary device used by writers to exaggerate a point. In the story of Joseph, there are a few hyperboles used. One good example of how this literary style creates an impact on Joseph’s story is towards the end. The narrator here describes how the character Joseph accomplished his task and at the same time acquiring money, things, livestock and land for the Pharaoh. In Genesis 47:23, Joseph said to the people “Now that I have bought you and your land today for the Pharaoh, here is seed for you so you can plant the ground.” Based on the series of events in the story, there isn’t a time that the people sold themselves in exchange for food. There is an exaggeration in this statement made by Joseph. The writer creates stress on the achievement of Joseph by exaggeration. Now that I have bought you, in Joseph’s statement, is a way for a writer to express that the people whom he had exchanged food for money, possession, livestock and land now all belong to Pharaoh, and everything that is in it is under Pharaoh. The stress on the event is later on reinforced by the narrator by describing how the people acknowledged this statement which is in Genesis 47:25, “You have saved our lives. They said, May we find favor in the eyes of the Lord; We will be in bondage with Pharaoh.” This statement that come from the people, as the writer describes, is a justification of the statement that Joseph has made. The structure of Joseph’s story makes an impact by creating a certain level of interest for the readers. The combination of literary styles also keep the story intact to the character which the story should revolve on. Each literary style enhanced the way the situation, character or event is describe in the story, the structure in sequence makes smooth transition from one chapter to another possible. The points of view of the writer on which selected events that are included make the story short and simple (Elbow 52). Works Cited Bar-Efrat, Shimeon. Narrative Art in the Bible. London. Continuum International Publishing Group, 2004. Print. Boadt, Lawrence. Reading the Old Testament: An Introduction. New Jersey: Paulist Press, 1984. Dimont, Max. Jews, God, and History. New York: Signet Classic, 2004. Print. Elbow, Peter. Writing with Power: Techniques for Mastering the Writing Process. New York: Oxford University Press US, 1998. Print. Hamilton, Victor. The Book of Genesis: Chapters 18-50, Volume 2. Michigan: W.M .B Eerdmans Publishing, 1995. Humphreys, Lee. The Character of God in the Book of Genesis: A Narrative Appeal. Kentucky: Westminster John Knox Press, 2001. Print. Jeansonne, Sharon. The Women of Genesis: from Sarah to Potiphar’s Wife. Minnesota: Fortress Press, 1990. Kellogg, Alfred. Abraham, Joseph, and Moses in Egypt. Montana: Kessinger Publishing, 2005. Print. Moore, Ellen. Sequencing Simple Stories: Reading and Writing Skill. Ohio. Learning Horizon Incorporated, 1995. Print. The Bible: Authorized King James Version. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998. 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