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1. How does Thomas Mann portray the character development of Joseph throughout "Joseph the Provider"? Consider how Joseph evolves from his earlier experiences to his final role in Egypt.

2. Discuss the theme of destiny versus free will in the novel. How do Joseph’s actions align with or challenge the idea of a predestined fate? Explore how Joseph interprets his dreams and how they influence his decisions.

3. Examine the relationship between Joseph and his brothers in "Joseph the Provider." How does Mann depict the process of reconciliation and forgiveness? Analyze key scenes where Joseph interacts with his brothers, particularly after revealing his identity.

4. How does the theme of power manifest in the novel? Consider how Joseph's rise to power in Egypt is depicted and what it reveals about his character. Look at Joseph’s use of power and the moral implications of his actions as a provider.

5. What role do dreams and visions play in "Joseph the Provider"? How do they influence the plot and the characters' perceptions of reality? Discuss specific dreams or visions and their significance to the narrative.

6. Analyze the role of divine intervention in the novel. How does Mann handle the tension between human agency and divine will?Consider how the gods and divine forces are portrayed and their influence on the characters� lives.

7. Discuss the theme of identity in "Joseph the Provider." How does Joseph navigate his dual identity as a Hebrew and an Egyptian? Explore how Joseph’s cultural and familial identities influence his actions and relationships.

8. How does Mann use symbolism and allegory in the novel? Identify and analyze at least two symbols or allegorical elements and their significance to the story. Consider objects, characters, or events that carry deeper meanings.

9. In what ways does "Joseph the Provider" address the concept of justice? How do the characters' actions reflect different interpretations of justice? Examine moments where justice is sought, delivered, or questioned, particularly in relation to Joseph’s brothers.

10. How does Thomas Mann weave historical and mythological elements into the narrative? What effect does this blending have on the reader's understanding of the story? Discuss how Mann incorporates historical details and mythological references to enrich the narrative and its themes.

1. How does Thomas Mann portray the character development of Joseph throughout "Joseph the Provider"? Consider how Joseph evolves from his earlier experiences to his final role in Egypt.

Joseph matures from being a selfish and conceited young man to being worthy of God's blessing. Ultimately Joseph becomes resigned to his role as an instrument of both the Pharaoh and of Israel and that in both these roles he serves God's story. His father Jacob is well aware that Joseph both saves the family and sets up the family for four hundred years of being slaves in the land of the Nile. Joseph is not chosen to be the leader of Israel nor even a major contributor to the larger family's story. Rather he is chosen to be someone who God blessed during his lifetime. At least Jacob blesses one of his son's, Ephraim and through Joshua, this arm becomes one of the tribes of Israel. Joseph is still a charming man even in his 50's and he is well loved. He also comes to truly forgive his brothers as he understands how God used them to move the bigger story forward.

2. Discuss the theme of destiny versus free will in the novel. How do Joseph’s actions align with or challenge the idea of a predestined fate? Explore how Joseph interprets his dreams and how they influence his decisions.

Mann plays with this theme. There are many times in which he says that what we have heard (i.e. read in the Bible), is not the real story. Other times, he acknowledges that what is remembered, factual or not, is the story. Joseph always believed that he was fulfilling God's will. He believed he had to be lifted up because that is the dream that God gave him. In this way, Joseph's free will was rarely far off from his "destiny". He did trip over the love interest of Mut-em-enet, which he thought he had more control of than he did. He also saw his brother's cruelty and betrayals as standing against the will of God and it was not until he was "lifted up" that he began to see it all as partially his fault and also all God's will.


3. Examine the relationship between Joseph and his brothers in "Joseph the Provider." How does Mann depict the process of reconciliation and forgiveness? Analyze key scenes where Joseph interacts with his brothers, particularly after revealing his identity.

I enjoyed the way that Benjamin saw through the role playing that Joseph was doing and sensed that the Provider was his brother. The rest of his brothers are tired of carrying their shame and want to be forgiven and in the end Joseph fully forgives and understands his own part in the problems between them.

4. How does the theme of power manifest in the novel? Consider how Joseph's rise to power in Egypt is depicted and what it reveals about his character. Look at Joseph’s use of power and the moral implications of his actions as a provider.

Joseph's sense of himself as above others without that sense of superiority being twisted into corruption is a rare example of powerful leadership. He serves three masters: His God, His father and the Pharaoh, and Joseph never forgets that his God is the first of the three. In servicing others he is quite adept at servicing himself also, not unlike his father.

5. What role do dreams and visions play in "Joseph the Provider"? How do they influence the plot and the characters' perceptions of reality? Discuss specific dreams or visions and their significance to the narrative.

Joseph first interprets the dreams of his fellow prisoners and it this interpretation which came to be fulfilled that ultimately brought him to the attention of the Pharaoh. Joseph did not have to struggle to interpret either the other prisoner's or the Pharaoh's dream. It simply came to him. He was again simply a conduit of God's voice. I loved the way that Mann continually mocked the 7 years of plenty versus the 7 years of drought and how there may only have been 5 bad years and one of those might have not been all that bad....In this way, Mann calls out that interpretation and the mythology around that interpretation is what is important rather than the facts.

6. Analyze the role of divine intervention in the novel. How does Mann handle the tension between human agency and divine will?Consider how the gods and divine forces are portrayed and their influence on the characters� lives.

Although Mann touches on many of the Egyptian Gods and Pharaoh's love of the new milder more loving god than the old war like gods, that is largely a side story. Mann mostly centers the divine presence as an intimate of Jacob. Jacob is the companion of God, the holder of the faith, the interpreter of God's will, and the founder of the family of Israel. Joseph does not interact with God that much but he is a firm believer and sees his presence through his own life and how it follows the path of his dreams.


8. How does Mann use symbolism and allegory in the novel? Identify and analyze at least two symbols or allegorical elements and their significance to the story. Consider objects, characters, or events that carry deeper meanings.

Mann, of course, has the advantage of seeing the story of Jacob and Joseph as being on the road to the story of Christ. He speaks to the allegorical nature of the one that comes to forgive all mankind. In particular Mann refers to Jacob being placed in a tomb, Joseph rising up, and the fact that the whole story revolves around betrayal and ultimate forgiveness. The Nile itself is a symbol of the power of nature. Wheat stalks throughout history has been a sign of Joseph's ability to see the drought or lean years coming and turning this wheat into riches for Egypt and the way to prevent the whole of Israel from starvation.

9. In what ways does "Joseph the Provider" address the concept of justice? How do the characters' actions reflect different interpretations of justice? Examine moments where justice is sought, delivered, or questioned, particularly in relation to Joseph’s brothers.

The justice of Joseph being sent to jail was a very light sentence given that he should have been tortured and killed. Joseph then turns this sentence into something that will work for him in terms of building relationships and in continuing to use his God given gifts of leadership.
One of the most moving moments in the book is when the brothers have to decide who is going to stay while the rest of them get to go home to pick up Benjamin. In this area of the book, the brothers repeatedly insist that they are one, not 12 separate, but one family. The first three brothers lose their inheritance because of their behavior and both Joseph and Benjamin are treated very differently by their father, and yet, when it comes to being blessed at the end of the book, all the brothers are in agreement about who is the head of Israel even if Joseph has the power, he does not have the blessing.

10. How does Thomas Mann weave historical and mythological elements into the narrative? What effect does this blending have on the reader's understanding of the story? Discuss how Mann incorporates historical details and mythological references to enrich the narrative and its themes.

Mann brings to light the human nature and human motivations behind the events that are only laid out in chronological order in the Bible. Mann adds to the discussion the Egyptian priests and their power structure, the 12 signs of the zodiac, the belief in the moon as a deity etc. In addition, we are introduced to many other gods as a way for Mann to further investigate the nature of human's religious thoughts and how the rudimentary beliefs in various personal gods could rise up and form a larger system that addresses the ideas of destiny and free will. Mann's God is an all knowing one but nevertheless he "botches" things, is lonely, and is in need of a mirror for his own sense of power. In other words, a mature religion comes to be not only a system of stories but a system of promises between the believer and the one believed in.
I enjoyed Mann throwing in the facts as he presents them versus the Biblical story. He often is very humorous when he tells us that that isn't really what happened. For example, there is a large section on exactly how old Jacob could have been when he travels to Egypt. Again, the story teller and the reader (or believer) are making this journey together.

1. How does Thomas Mann portray the character development of Joseph throughout "Joseph the Provider"? Consider how Joseph evolves from his earlier experiences to his final role in Egypt.

Joseph is already pretty mature at the beginning of 'Joseph the Provider'. He accepts his return to slavery/prison and makes the best of it with remarkable results. He is more cautious and less arrogant than when he was young, and thinks more about the effects of his words and actions on other people than he did when dealing either with his brothers or with Potiphar and his wife Mut-em-enet. He gives God the credit for all the main events of his life and seems to take the view that everything has a purpose and all things shall be well, instead of bemoaning his bad fortune or revelling in his good fortune.

2. Discuss the theme of destiny versus free will in the novel. How do Joseph’s actions align with or challenge the idea of a predestined fate? Explore how Joseph interprets his dreams and how they influence his decisions.

The attitude seems to be that God has a design for us, so destiny is major, but it could work out in different ways, so free will comes into play too. But maybe the biggest way that we have free will is in how we react to what happens to us. We can accept it or we can rage against it or wallow in it or rejoice over it, and that's what makes the difference in our lives. For example Joseph can choose to forgive his brothers or not. It doesn't make any difference to anyone's destiny, but it makes a difference to how everyone feels. But I may be reading my own views into the novel here - I'm not sure that Mann says this.

Regarding dreams, I don't recall Joseph interpreting his own dreams in this section. He interprets the dreams of two fellow prisoners and correctly predicts what will happen to them and how one of them will eventually help him. He then interprets Pharoah's dreams and hints that a clever and responsible man needs to be appointed to stave off famine, whereupon Pharoah rises to the bait and gives Joseph the job.

3. Examine the relationship between Joseph and his brothers in "Joseph the Provider." How does Mann depict the process of reconciliation and forgiveness? Analyze key scenes where Joseph interacts with his brothers, particularly after revealing his identity.

Joseph's acceptance of everthing that happens as being God's will allows him to forgive his brothers - they were also doing God's will when they threw him in the well. But they are not sure they will be forgiven, and they send Benjamin to tell Joseph that they didn't really mean to kill him. It's a huge relief to them when he forgives them. They seem to have no jealousy regarding his new station in life.

4. How does the theme of power manifest in the novel? Consider how Joseph's rise to power in Egypt is depicted and what it reveals about his character. Look at Joseph’s use of power and the moral implications of his actions as a provider.

Joseph is very clever in his rise to power, being careful always to let himself be chosen instead of pushing himself forward, just being in the right place at the right time. Mann gives two versions of his role as provider, one that is almost completely positive (he saves the country and surrounding lands from famine, he only makes the rich pay) and one that is less so (he makes all landowners mortgage their land to Pharoah and creates an empire for Pharoah, while also enriching himself).

5. What role do dreams and visions play in "Joseph the Provider"? How do they influence the plot and the characters' perceptions of reality? Discuss specific dreams or visions and their significance to the narrative.

See 2. above

6. Analyze the role of divine intervention in the novel. How does Mann handle the tension between human agency and divine will? Consider how the gods and divine forces are portrayed and their influence on the characters� lives.

See 3. above

7. Discuss the theme of identity in "Joseph the Provider." How does Joseph navigate his dual identity as a Hebrew and an Egyptian? Explore how Joseph’s cultural and familial identities influence his actions and relationships.

Joseph has become someone who is not at home in either country, as many immigrants say they feel. The Egyptians see him as a foreigner, but his family see him as partly Egyptian. Even though he follows the God of Israel in his mind, he outwardly performs ceremonies to Egyptian gods, and this is one reason why Jacob makes Judah his heir (or maybe why God chooses Judah to continue the line of descent to Jesus). He is also both in and outside his birth family. He is one of them by blood, but it's hard to imagine his wife and children integrating with the families of these foreign shepherds.

8. How does Mann use symbolism and allegory in the novel? Identify and analyze at least two symbols or allegorical elements and their significance to the story. Consider objects, characters, or events that carry deeper meanings.

9. In what ways does "Joseph the Provider" address the concept of justice? How do the characters' actions reflect different interpretations of justice? Examine moments where justice is sought, delivered, or questioned, particularly in relation to Joseph’s brothers.

10. How does Thomas Mann weave historical and mythological elements into the narrative? What effect does this blending have on the reader's understanding of the story? Discuss how Mann incorporates historical details and mythological references to enrich the narrative and its themes.