Israel plays an important role in the Jewish aspect of this novel. The idea of Zionism, or the movement of Jews to Palestine to establish their own nation, is one that regularly emerges as a controversial issue.For context, Israel is a small country (about the size of New Jersey) near Egypt on the east coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The land is historically significant within Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. Much of this is in relation to Abraham’s settlement there, who is known as the father of Judaism and Islam.
Zionism emerged during the 1800s when many Jews feared persecution among antisemitic sentiments throughout Europe. As a result, Jews wanted to reestablish a homeland in Palestine where they would find religious refuge. Between 1882 and 1903, 35,000 Jews relocated to Palestine, with another surge occurring in the 1900s (History.com). The area was controlled by the Ottoman Empire at the time, but England had a particular interest in the colonization of the area of trade reasons (Röder-Bolton).
Within the novel, the idea of Zionism remains relevant to the antisemitic theme Eliot inscribes. One such instance of this occurs in Book VI: Revelations, when Mordecai and Deronda are in a philosophical group debating the concept of nationality and Jewishness, and whether or not Zionism was an acceptable solution to the problem. Daniel Deronda develops a pro-Zionism approach as he decides there is a lack of political purpose in England despite the recent political equality (Röder-Bolton). However, during this conversation that takes place in the philosophical group, the question of whether or not assimilation into England undermines the preserving of their culture and does not account for the suffering the Jews have faced becomes a topic of discussion. Some view creating a Jewish nation as an out that will never result in political and social freedom and equality within a society outside of Palestine. Mordecai and Deronda dissent from this idea and believe establishing a homeland would be beneficial. Mordecai states, “Let us contradict the blasphemy, and help to will our own higher gift and say, ‘Let us be as if we were not among the populations;’ but choose our own heritage, claim the brotherhood of our nation, and carry into it a new brotherhood with the nations of the Gentiles. The vision is there; it will be fulfilled,” (Eliot 475). On the contrary, another man is anti-Zionism, stating, “And now we have political equality, there’s no excuse for a pretence of that sort. But I am for getting rid of all our superstitions and exclusiveness. There’s no reason now why we shouldn’t melt gradually into the populations we live among,” (Eliot 465). These two beliefs on the migration to the homeland of Palestine for Jews remains a relevant topic throughout the novel as the characters embrace their heritage and nationality amongst the widespread antisemitism of England.
Works Cited:
Dodd, Mead, & Company. “Map of Palestine.” Wikimedia Commons, 1894, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Map_of_Palestine.jpg. Accessed 21 April 2021.
Eliot, George. Daniel Deronda. Penguin, 2012.
History.com Editors. “Israel.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 30 June 2017, www.history.com/topics/middle-east/history-of-israel.
Roder-Bolton, G., and G. Roder-Bolton. "'A-Binding-History-Tragic-Yet-Glorious' - George Eliot and the Jewish Element in 'Daniel Deronda'." English (London), vol. 49, no. 195, 09/01/2000, pp. 205-227, doi:10.1093/english/49.195.205.