An Analysis of B. Malamud’s Prose from the Perspective of I. Kant’s Moral Philosophy

Abstract

This paper seeks to examine the prose of Jewish American writer Bernard Malamud (1914–1986) through the moral philosophy of Immanuel Kant, a towering Enlightenment figure that has had a tremendous impact on intellectual circles to date. Based on qualitative research, the study begins with a brief introduction into Kant’s ethical outlook, which is deontological rather than utilitarian. In other words, for an action to be deemed morally right it has to be primarily motivated by duty, not personal desire or goal. The duty-based ethics is manifested through the categorical imperative, considered as the universal law, whereby motives for a certain act are assessed. In this regard, there exists a significant similarity between Kant’s ethical beliefs and those of Malamud, whose fiction highlights the embrace of moral values and one’s moral responsibility toward others, in a world governed by greed and self-interest without showing consideration for one’s fellow beings. Following a close analysis of Malamud’s major works, it is concluded that the transformation of the Malamudian hero from an initially egotistical and self-indulgent individual to an altruistic and self-sacrificing person materializes in the manner of Kant’s moral philosophy.