The Art & Letters of Repentance: Shakespearean Shipwrecks, the Drama of Jonah, and Yom Kippur

Abstract

The story of Jonah, runaway prophet and ambiguous penitent, has inspired some of the most compelling pieces of prose in the West—from Shakespeare’s Tempest to Melville’s Moby Dick. What is it about this sensational biblical episode that makes it a fitting reading for the holiest day on the Jewish calendar? Moreover, why are stories, more than sermons or other forms of spiritual service, the most effective tool for helping us navigate questions of self-worth, belonging, and purpose? By looking at Jonah through the lens of Renaissance drama, as well as the relationship between drama and devotion, this talk explores how the Book of Jonah uniquely empowers its audience to enact personal transformation and seek the common ground of collective responsibility.