Body and Space in Judith: A Greimassian Perspective

Summary: The book of Judith (Judith) has been studied by various scholars employing a range of methods
|with intriguing results. There is, however, a gap in scholarship regarding the use of body and space in
|Judith. This paper attempts a literary study of Judith using a Greimassian semiotic perspective, focusing on
|figurative analysis. It appears that no other scholar working on Judith has ever focused on the story using a
|Greimassian approach. Following this approach has yielded some surprising results. I contend that
|actorialization and spatialization play an important role in saving the Jewish people and their religion from
|impending extinction by the Assyrians. Subsequently, the article addresses the challenge of ethical limits
|and implications of the use of the body and space in advancing religious ambitions.