Diasporic Voices in The Messiah of Stockholm by Cynthia Ozick

Abstract

This study is analysing the condition of the stranger, characterizing the protagonist of the novel The Messiah of Stockholm by Cynthia Ozick, in relation to Jacques Derrida’s study Of Hospitality, his complex relationship of care with Mrs Eklund as well as the changing of the reader’s position regarding the access to the inner life of Lars Andemining. There will be a highlight on the mixture of different cultural voices, on the condition of the immigrant, and, last but not least, on a relationship of care that is not fully sincere, even though it succeeds. Furthermore, we would argue that the novel accomplishes the function of seductively sabotaging the readers into the complexity of human relationships in diaspora, through different voices.

Keywords

• cynthia ozick
• the messiah of stockholm
• diasporic voice
• aesthetics of care
• hospitality
• seductively sabotage