My Michael

My Michael, by Amos Oz, is by far my favorite book this semester. The novel, which details a fragmented marriage between Hannah and Michael Gonen, is as relevant today as it was when it was written over 50 years ago. The idea of not knowing someone beneath an exterior surface is common and applicable in today’s society. “My husband and I are like two strangers who happen to meet coming out of a clinic where they have received treatment involving some physical unpleasantness. Both embarrassed, reading each other’s minds, conscious of an uneasy, embarrassing intimacy, wearily groping for the right tone in which to address each other.” We gradually come to understand that both Hannah and Michael are essentially strangers in their marriage, coexisting with one another.  

I particularly enjoyed the writing style and format of the novel. Hannah tells her story of life and love in the first person narrative. The descriptive and poetic language that Oz uses to describe the scenery of Jerusalem, or the dialogue and tense interaction between characters is energizing. I applaud Oz’s ability to write the entire novel using a female voice. The tone and voice of the novel certainly come through. 

One thing that I found interesting was the historical backdrop of the novel in relation to the characters. We read that Hannah and Michael are married in early March 1949. Historically, Israel gains its independence shortly after. I noted a parallel between Hannah’s battle for independence and control within her marriage, and the struggles to defend the State of Israel. “You’re mine,” I whispered. “Don’t ever be distant,” (30). Hannah’s life isn’t anything as she imagined it would be. She lacks a personal and emotional connection with her husband and son, and watches as Michael furthers his educational studies, while she puts aside her love of literature and education. Although Hannah is in awe of Michael’s studies, she ultimately longs for a sense of excitement in her life, as she vividly recalls several re-occurring dreams and fantasies about “Hazil”. Her tedious life is paralleled by the same issues of the Israeli State: finding identity and maintaining stability.