Pentecost is coming, the Shabuôt of the Jews. TheTorah is commenting on Ruth, as a result of Ruth's own take on Deuteronomy 25 yibbum. Professor Nehama Aschkenasy discusses this book's comedic aspects.
As in: actual comedy. Naomi, the actual protagonist of the story, is an Israelite and widow whose son married Ruth the Moabite but died. Naomi offers that ex-daughter-in-law Ruth try her luck with other Moabites, like her sister does. But Ruth doesn't, sticking with Naomi. These messy interrelations around how we be Supposed-To-Behave make the main stock of Greek (and Latin) comedy, the rites of spring. Also the concern with the lower-levels of society; we're not laughing at their condition, we're watching out for how they get better.
May I ask how Ruth was composed; not as a Biblical Book but as an actual stage-play? The Greeks might have copied their comedies in formal stage-directions but do we get this from (say) the Hittites? Ruth would, then, be a master-text for the mummers to riff from, depending on their audience. I understand that the Improv remains a force among troupes.
- and how about Jonah? That might take more special-effects work.
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