Moon and Madness by Isaac Bashevis Singer
"Moon and Madness" by Isaac Bashevis Singer is a narrative that unfolds over a winter night in the Radzymin study house, where three Jewish characters share stories centered on themes of compassion and moral dilemmas. The first tale, told by Zalman, focuses on Count Jan Malecki, a kind-hearted noble who, despite his good intentions and egalitarian beliefs, finds himself unable to administer true justice as a district judge due to his overwhelming pity for those who come before him. His reluctance to punish leads to tragic consequences when a notorious criminal named Wojtek, emboldened by Malecki's leniency, ultimately causes grievous harm to the community.
Levi Yitzchok then recounts the story of Stanislaw Karlowski, a wealthy landowner known for his foolishness and misplaced loyalty to his unfaithful wife. Karlowski’s delusions result in his downfall, culminating in death and loss rather than redemption. Lastly, Meir the Cabbalist shares a tale about Rabbi Joseph della Reina, a powerful magician whose misplaced compassion for Satan leads to his own ruin and a series of tragic events, culminating in his reincarnation as a dog.
Through these interconnected narratives, Singer explores complex human emotions and the consequences of compassion intertwined with folly and moral failure, provoking reflection on the nature of pity and its impact on human lives.
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Moon and Madness by Isaac Bashevis Singer
First published: 1980
Type of plot: Fable
Time of work: The early 1900's
Locale: Radzymin, Poland
Principal Characters:
Zalman , a glazier, the first storytellerLevi Yitzchok , the second storytellerMeir , a eunuch and Cabbalist, the third storytellerCount Jan Malecki , a landownerMaciek Sokal , a corrupt lawyerWojtek , a notorious criminalStach Skiba , a peasantStasia Skiba , his daughterStefan , the peasant youth whom Stasia marriesStanislaw Karlowski , a rich, litigious landownerRabbi Joseph Della Reina , a rabbi and conjurerPtima , the wife of a Spanish caliph and Rabbi Joseph's mistressGrisha , the beautiful wife of the Grand Vizier and Rabbi Joseph's other mistress
The Story
One winter night in the Radzymin study house, three Jews swap stories about pity. Zalman begins by telling of a Count Jan Malecki, who freed his serfs long before Czar Alexander abolished serfdom in 1861. Dividing his land among the peasants, Malecki worked as hard as any of them. Meanwhile, all of his relatives lived idly from his earnings. Despite Malecki's egalitarian sentiments, the Russians who rule the area appoint him district judge. Because he is so tenderhearted, however, he never sentences anyone. As soon as he hears the flimsiest excuse, Malecki not only frees the criminal but also gives him money from his own pocket.
One felon who repeatedly appears before him is Wojtek, a robber, murderer, and rapist. Malecki can do nothing about this criminal because no one will testify against him. Finally, however, Wojtek goes too far. He is in love with Stasia Skiba, but she rejects him for the honest Stefan. As they are celebrating their wedding at her father's house, the building burns down. Among the twenty dead are Stasia and Stefan.
This time there are witnesses to accuse Wojtek of arson and murder. The peasants jail him, but Maciek Sokal, the defender of all the local criminals, appeals to Malecki. The weak judge accepts Sokal's claim of Wojtek's innocence and signs the order for his release. Enraged, the peasants kill Sokal, Wojtek, and Malecki.
Zalman's story reminds Levi Yitzchok of a similar one about the rich landowner Stanislaw Karlowski. In Kozienice, he was known as Crazy Karlowski because he squandered his money on foolish lawsuits. Everyone but Karlowski knew that his wife was having affairs, but he insisted on her chastity, even fighting a duel with someone who spoke against her.
At last she tires of him and runs away with a lover, taking with her as much money as she can find in the house. When she returns with a bastard three years later, everyone expects that her husband will recognize his wife's true nature and kill her. Instead, he welcomes her and her child; when her lover reappears, he takes him into his household, too.
The lover does not continue his affair with Karlowski's wife—not because he has reformed but because he considers her too old. He begins a new liaison with a servant and one day robs both Karlowski and his wife before fleeing with this new mistress. Shortly afterward, Karlowski and his wife die.
After a long silence, Meir the Cabbalist responds to this story with a tale of Rabbi Joseph della Reina, who was so powerful a magician that he succeeded in chaining Satan. The Redemption was at hand; then Rabbi Joseph offered "a sniff of tobacco" to the devil. This misplaced compassion undid all the spells; Satan freed himself, and the Redemption could not occur. Rabbi Joseph then fell into despair and abandoned himself to sensuality. He used his powers to secure two beautiful women: Ptima, the wife of a Spanish caliph, and Grisha, the wife of the Grand Vizier. Each night he would conjure demons to bring Ptima, whom he enjoyed until midnight. They would then return her to her husband and fetch Grisha, whom he enjoyed until dawn.
Eventually, Ptima learns of Grisha, and she also discovers the magic word that gives the rabbi his power. She uses her knowledge to kill Grisha. She also orders the demons to bind Rabbi Joseph and then bring her the Fallen Angels and the giants before the Flood. As Rabbi Joseph is forced to watch, she makes love to them. After three days, Rabbi Joseph secures his release and banishes the demons.
He is about to kill Ptima for what she has done, but she tells him, "We two can conquer the world. You will conjure the most beautiful women, and I the richest men. We will put them to sleep and rob them. . . . You will become king of the netherworld and I will be your loving queen." Their first joint effort is also their last. Ptima agrees to revive Grisha, but resurrection is the one power denied to conjurers. Therefore, their attempt to recall Grisha costs them their magic powers. Ptima dies a beggar; Rabbi Joseph dies and is reincarnated as a dog.