The Silence of the Wives: Bakhtin's Monologism and Ezra 7—10*

This article examines an understudied aspect of Bakhtin's literary theory, monologism, and then brings the observations to bear on the account of the sending away of Israel's foreign wives in Ezra 7—10. Bakhtin's ethical interests make his work a promising lens through which to view this troubling text. It allows a reader to describe the diversity of narrative techniques used to characterize Ezra and his mission while still recognizing the underlying unity of the text's message. In fact, the multiplicity of voices in the text may serve to mask its monologic effect. However, these chapters in Ezra may also be read within the context of a canon, which does comprise polyphony, undercutting Ezra's message.