Anna Rastatter

ENG 221
Judith: A New Kind of Hero
The character of Judith within English Literature is such a unique and dynamic feminine figure.
Between her intellectual attributes and the bond she maintains with God, Judith is representative of a new
and unique type of female character the from middle age literature. Judith possesses the strength and
composure to lead her village into triumph over their ancient enemies. She also has an unrelenting, devote
faith in God, regardless of the ugly exploits she must persevere. Judith is neither defined by her external
beauty, or an unbelievable physical strength. She is however worthy of recognition for being an incredible
leader with a courageous way of thinking. For a female heroin within middle age English Literature, this
is absolutely revolutionary. Judith is worthy of the pedestal she is put upon as the token figurehead of her
people, inspiring them to take on the Assyrian warriors.
Apposition is utilized in describing important aspects of Judiths character. The repetition of
synonymic descriptions emphasizes Judiths true identity. Throughout the story, Judiths faith is
communicated when she is labeled as holy and noble. She is referred to as the Creators maiden (ln 77)
and the Lords woman (ln 261). This conveys her faith and the depth of her devotion to God. Before
killing Holofernes, she turns to God to provide her with the ability to kill the evil man. Judith first begs
for Gods mercy as she commits murder. She announces her sorrow: My heart is intensely/ inflamed
within me now, and my mind is troubled, /greatly afflicted with sorrows. (ln 86-88). It is stated that God
then fills her with an overwhelming calm because she has maintained a true faith in Him. The serenity
that replaces the grief is attributed to God providing her with the skills to accomplish such a brutal
murder. Judith is thoroughly dependent on God to empower her, and, in turn empower her people. Judith
accredits the Lord for all of the brave actions she and her warriors achieve.

The word beautiful is used twice within the story to describe the warriors ornaments of war
and Holofernes all-golden fly net. Interestingly enough, beauty is not a part of the apposition that
accentuates Judiths defining characteristics. Only once is her allure articulated at the beginning of the
tale, stating that was the fourth day/ after Judith, prudent in mind, / this woman of elfin beauty first
visited him. (lines 12-14). Because she is greatly desired by Holofernes, it can be assumed that she is not
lacking physical attractiveness. Her outward appearance is unimportant to who she is and what she can
accomplish. To interpret the omission of Judiths physical description, it can be observed that her intellect
and faith are the characteristics much more important to her role. Her heroism and prudence make her
more powerful than beauty ever could. The description always refers to Judiths inner light rather than her
amount of beauty. Judith has an identity based on unfailing intelligence and wit instead of her physical
appeal. This sets her apart from typical female characters in English Literature from the middle ages.
Within the scene of Holofernes murder, Judith must strike twice to behead him. This reveals that
Judith is not a woman of great physical strength. She is not the typical warrior-hero, normally feared for
their physique. Instead she is a woman of great determination and wisdom. After the initial strike of the
sword, Holofernes is still alive, but because of Judiths conviction she is able to drive the sword through
his neck once again, removing the head from his body. This scene illustrates that although Judith might be
lacking the physical power to behead a man in one swift swing, she has the necessary will to accomplish
the task for the sake of her villagers. Judith is no less fearsome because she is a woman. She possesses the
skills to infiltrate Holofernes forces and defeat the tyrannical rule of his followers. By depriving
Holofernes of his head, she kick starts a revolution for the long-oppressed citizens.
Even before their triumph over the Assyrians, the retainers worshipped Judith and did not doubt
her abilities. Her natives were described as sorrowful when she left to defeat Holofernes. Upon returning
to her city walls with Holofernes head, there were warriors guarding the gate just as she had instructed
before leaving. She was certainly beloved by her city. They trusted Judiths judgment and leadership skills
enough to enthusiastically head into battle at her beckon call. Not only did Judith have a voice, unlike

most women in English Literature, she was the commander of her townsfolk. She instigates the battle that
ends in a success and is showered in rewards for directing her people.
Judith has a great duty to her city to lead them into battle. After murdering the Assyrians heinous
leader, Judith rallies her village. She inspires her retainers to go bravely into battle, just as she
courageously deprived Holofernes of his life. Interestingly, Judith is quite humble about the murder of
Holofernes. When motivating the townsfolk, she only briefly mentions the deed she just completed. Even
in her acknowledgment, she euphemizes the difficulty experienced in completing the task. Judith gives all
of the credit to Gods help for strengthening her to execute the mission. She is utterly humble and wastes
no time rejoicing over Holofernes death. Instead she utilizes the severed head to light a fire in her people.
Judith clearly has a great influence on her village because they willingly go into battle. After her people
take victory over Holofernes warrior, the text states that All of that was earned by the warriors glory, /
bold under the banners and in battle/ through the prudent counsel of Judith, / the daring maiden. (ln 331334) Judith led the civilians into combat, and after the victory, they honor her for their triumph.
At the end of the tale, Judith is compensated for the brave expedition with Holofernes war gear.
She is given his sword, helmet, mail-coat, and all the treasure and heirlooms possessed by the defeated
warriors. These rewards further emphasize how heroic Judiths daring actions were. For taking the head
of the evil leader, she is rewarded just as any warrior would have been. This juxtaposes her femininity
with her leadership of the city. Judith is showered in both war gear and treasure and she accepts the gifts
willingly: Indeed, at the end she did not doubt/ in the reward which she had long yearned for. (ln 345346). The text shows how Judith burned for both the conquest of her city and for Holofernes precious
war-gear and treasures. It seems so unladylike to rejoice in receiving the sword, the helmet, and the mailcoat, but that is what makes Judith such a profound, unique feminine figurehead. She was a resourceful
and capable leader at the forefront of the tale.

Judith is cut from a different cloth in comparison to most females found in middle age English
Literature. Her beauty is not promoted and she is an acclaimed counselor for her people. The main focus
of her personality is the wisdom, faith and courage she preserves throughout the entire anecdote. She
cherishes religion to the point that it defines her behavior and achievements. She is not like most women
in middle age English Literature, who had a narrowly prescribed role of wife, lover, or mother. Judiths
depth of character defied these norms. This serves to enhance her authoritative voice in influencing her
city. Judith could have been placed on a pedestal, but she manages to remain humble in her role as leader.
She remains composed while murdering Holofernes, the brutish man. Judith has an identity made up of
her constant courage, her wits, and her faith in God.