Indebted

By Yonatan Sagiv

Book Description

In this groundbreaking literary analysis, Yonatan Sagiv unveils the hidden economic dimensions within the works of Nobel Prize-winning author Shmuel Yosef Agnon, revealing profound insights about human nature and spiritual existence. Through an innovative blend of economic theory, psychology, and religious studies, Sagiv demonstrates how Agnon's masterful storytelling illuminates the complex relationship between material concerns and spiritual life.

The book explores how themes of debt, money, and economic exchange function as powerful metaphors in Agnon's literature, exposing deeper truths about the human condition. Sagiv's analysis reveals what he calls Agnon's "law of permanent debt," a concept suggesting that all economic systems, whether literal or symbolic, are inherently unstable and subject to recurring crises.

This scholarly work examines how traditional Jewish society grappled with the forces of modernity, using economic imagery to explore questions of faith, identity, and belonging. Sagiv's interpretation suggests that Agnon viewed economic instability not merely as a consequence of abandoning tradition, but potentially as a fundamental aspect of human existence itself.

For readers interested in the intersection of spirituality and material life, this study offers a unique lens through which to understand how economic realities shape religious consciousness and personal identity. The book challenges conventional boundaries between sacred and secular concerns, revealing their profound interconnectedness in both literature and life.