Literary Devices Used In The Book Of Esther

The author’s purpose in writing the Book of Esther was to emphasize the importance of the Jewish people in God’s plan and to have them remember his divine providence. We can also find examples of leadership traits mentioned in its pages. The well-crafted plot uses several literary tools to make key points and provide humor. Most notable is the use of irony, motif and subversion throughout the text.
A profound example of irony occurs in Esther 6:1-6:11, when Haman mistakenly believes that King Ahasuerus wants to honor him. Suffering from insomnia, the king reads the royal records and finds out that Mordecai had prevented an assassination attempt on his life. Realizing that Mordecai was never rewarded for this act, the king summons Haman to consult with. The king asks Haman, “What shall be done for the man whom the king wishes to honor?” (Esther 6:6). Haman, thinking he is the one the king wishes to recognize, comes up with the greatest honor his mind can
devise. Haman suggests that the man to be honored should be dressed in the king’s royal robes, escorted on the royal horse though the public square and announced as the one the king wishes to honor. In turn the king tells Haman to do exactly what Haman suggested for Mordecai. Coming to speak with the king about having Mordecai hanged, Haman is now forced to parade Mordecai through town and declare his greatness.
Irony through role reversal continues between the characters of Mordecai and Haman. The gallows Haman has built for Mordecai’s hanging end up being the place of his own execution. Haman’s plot to destroy the Jews and Mordecai ends up being the fate of the Jewish enemies and himself. Valuing wealth and power Haman acts only to benefit himself yet, Mordecai is eventually appointed to his position and given his land. Zaresh the wife of Haman, advises him to hang Mordecai, then when her plan fails, she tells Haman, “you will not prevail against him, but will surely fall before him” (Esther 6:13).
Banquets are the motif that mark important events and changes of power and circumstance of the characters. The story opens with a banquet honoring King Ahasuerus and ends with a banquet celebrating the salvation of the Jews from their enemies. Queen Vashti is dethroned after her refusal to appear at a banquet and Esther is honored with a banquet after being crowned queen. Two Banquets hosted by Queen Esther enable her to set the trap for Haman and plead her case to King Ahasuerus. Annotations in The New Oxford Annotated Bible mention feasts as devices women used to deal with powerful men. Esther certainly does this, using the guise of a banquet to gratify the King and positions Haman to receive the Kings wrath. The resolution of the story also legitimizes the feast of Purim by providing a history and meaning of the celebration.
Perhaps the most powerful literary tool used in the Book of Esther is the author’s use of subversion.
The characters, Esther and Mordecai represent the Jewish people in their struggle to survive annihilation at the hands of their enemies. A component of the struggle is that Esther and Mordecai are Jews living in Persia and therefore have less status and authority. However, as the story moves forward Esther defies the odds by becoming Queen, and Mordecai gains standing after foiling the assassination attempt. Through good intentions and not force or violence, they rise from having almost no power to become two of the most powerful people in the Persian Empire. Again, their methods of negotiation and tactics rather than an open attack allow them to infiltrate the Persian monarchy and direct the action from behind the scenes. Esther upends the power structure in Persia and leads the Jews in establishing themselves as equals. Serving leaders level the playing field, empowering their followers and putting them
first.