Abstract
This article discusses a well-known Hebrew folktale about an adulterous couple in which the man is turned into a wild dog in punishment for his sin and attacks his married mistress. This story is found in the popular ethical work Kav Ha-yashar (The Just Measure) which was first printed in 1705. Using this story, I will demonstrate how folktales are used as a means of instilling fear of horrific punishment for breaking the social convention of monogamous marriage, and as a way of expressing misogyny. At the same time, the story provides a platform for expressing deviant sexuality, which is, of course, a taboo in everyday life. The transformation into a dog is based upon well-known canine images in Jewish culture.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 181-195 |
| Number of pages | 15 |
| Journal | Reinardus |
| Volume | 32 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 31 Dec 2020 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Literature and Literary Theory
