Abstract

Although his presence in The Assistant covers no more than one dozen pages, Ward Minogue is a crucial, usually overlooked character in Malamud's delicately woven novel. Malamud's title obviously alludes to the relationship between Frank Alpine and Morris Bober. Yet before taking his job in the grocery store, Frank is Ward's assistant. Because Ward's relationship to both Frank and Morris possesses rich significance, a more inclusive angle of critical vision that acknowledges Malamud's title (and Frank as title character) to possess a duel focus heightens our appreciation of the novel. Frank's "assistanceship" is conducted under not just Morris but also Ward. If Frank is Ward's accessory in the crime of robbing Bober's grocery store, Ward is Frank's accessory in Malamud's art. Ward is Frank's first foster father and godfather manqué whose depravity contrasts with the purity and asceticism of Frank's childhood spiritual ideal, St. Francis of Assisi (his otherworldly Assis-tant).

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