Zlateh the Goat

A static but round character, Reuven doesn’t develop or change throughout the story but symbolizes the “common man.” He’s the patriarch of his family, which includes his wife, Leah, and his children, Aaron, Anna, and Miriam, as well as Zlateh the goat. Reuven struggles to trust in God when times are hard and, like many, takes matters into his own hands. As the village furrier, he makes fur clothes and hats and repairs damaged furs. This season has brought a mild winter, and people have little use for a furrier, so Reuven is having a “bad year” (414). As the family’s provider, he must figure something out to make ends meet. Rather than relying on God, a central theme in this story, he makes a terrible decision: “After long hesitation he decided to sell Zlateh the goat” (414). He justifies his decision by noting her age and consequent decrease in milk production. His decision ignites the incidents and conflicts in this parable. Reuven takes on the typical countenance of a father: provider, decision-maker, and caretaker. Reuven is a well-developed character that illuminates the struggle of the common man and the struggle to have faith during hardship.