Magical Elements

For this week's first discussion forum, please select one "magical element" from each Malamud story and describe the significance to each story's meaning. Note that you need to analyze one element from "Idiots First" A story about a mentally disabled kid who fought for his life that has a loving mother who is a widower and single. Mendel struggled all his life as a retard and by the time he was in his late misfortune with a kid a was warned he was going to die and had to send his half witted son to see Uncle Leo in California before midnight. Mental struggles because he is thirty five dollars short on getting the ticket for his son Isaac. A great bearded man uniformed named Ginzberg stops him and refusing to collect or pass goe because its twelve indicating death. Love, sacrifice,survival, and death in a hostile world. and one from "The Magic Barrel." Leo is a lonely person who wants a wife a ask the matchmaker Salzman to bring him a wife. Leo needs a partner and his social life back. As elementary King process  continues, Leo catch a glimpse of grams of a beautiful woman in the picture of a beautiful women the matchmaker carried kept for himself to self. Leo wants to know who it was? The matchmaker explained she is his daughter and he is very overprotective of Leo from his daughter. Despite the objections from the peanut gallery the matchmaker and the mystery woman’s father, Leo pursues the matchmaker’s daughter. Love and redemption is the magical elements. Leo is a rabbinical student in New York. Like a Romeo and Juliet situation. Describe the symbolism of the magical elements -- religious or mundane -- and how each magical element reflects an aspect of character, plot, or theme. Love and redemption for Leo who is a rabbi in training and dedicated to god a student of the rabbinical culture. Leo earns for live and comes across a marriage broker symbolizing a salesman for love which is Leo’s particular need of love. The symbolism representing love is expressed throughout the story but destiny coming into play. His first date was unsuccessful with Lily and he wasn’t interested in the other pictures in the envelops. Just just had the picture of the daughter. The daughter was shunned and warned Leo by her own father  not to go for her she is bad, practically acting like she was dead to him. There is slight insinuations that she is a prostitute. The love prevail and Leo saw her despite of Salzman says. Another example of live and survival in a hostile world was portrayed by a mentally disabled character named Mendel. The love he received from his mother helped him survive a long life having a son that he lived just as much. Unfortunate is received news that is was going to die by midnight so out of live he scrounged up the last monies he had, which wasn’t enough, and tried to buy a ticket for his son Isaac to go to California to stay with his uncle. Midnight came quick and the grim reaper dressed or disguised as the beaten guy named ginzberg did not let him pass refusing to collect anymore tickets. Isaac missed his chance and Mendel did the best he could to save him from himself. Why did Malamud choose to incorporate these particular magical elements in his stories? Love is a powerful thing and meant a lot to him, also death, redemption, and survival are issues he perhaps struggled with in his life and wanted to express it throughout these stories for the audience could feel the way he wanted to in order to relate and gave sweet understandings. What does "magic" add to each story's tone and meaning? The supernatural and prophecy-like ways the stories both went . The mysterious ways love works out. Please post an initial analysis of at least 500 words.  In addition to your own initial analysis, please respond to five (5) of your classmates.  In your responses to your peers, write at least 3-4 thought-provoking sentences. Good luck and have fun!