The Books of Jacob

A key question posed throughout The Books of Jacob is the sincerity of Jacob’s Messianic claims. Jacob offers his fellow Jewish people a route to salvation at a time when they are frequently oppressed in violent ways by the Christian or Muslim societies that they inhabit. The role of the Messiah is part of a mystical tradition, in which Jacob casts himself as the natural successor to men like Sabbatai Tzvi. Throughout the novel, the Messianic figure is problematic because the lines between truth and fiction, and faith and opportunism, become increasingly blurred.

Jacob elevates himself above others and, as a part of this elevation, his rules permit him to indulge himself. According to Jacob’s reinterpretation of traditional religious rules, he is not beholden to dietary restrictions or bound by monogamy. He can eat whatever he wants and have sex with whomever he pleases. In this sense, Jacob’s radical religious reformations seem particularly cynical and self-serving. By apparent coincidence, the religion he preaches is one which satisfies his need for instant gratification. He encourages his followers to break these rules in a similar fashion; since they break these taboos, Jacob is forcing his followers to alienate themselves from society and bringing them further under his control.