Reflections on Judith

While at the beginning of Judith Judith appears to be a docile character, it isn’t long before the reader realizes Judith has an agenda. She cleverly manipulates herself close to Holofernes, so that she can achieve what she wants to him to achieve, and consequently, gain power. This being said, it seems to me as though the major dramatic question is, “At the end of the play, will Judith have power over both the Servant and Holofernes?” When Judith initially enters, she’s submissive. She doesn’t complete many thoughts, getting cut off by Holofernes various times. However as the play progresses, we see a shift in her. She knows her plan is working, and once she kills Holofernes she loses this false shyness and completely takes over, ravishing her position of power. It briefly looks as though the Servant will take over when she’s accusing Judith of hesitating, and considering doing it herself. This is an example of a moment within the play when it looks as though Judith could lose power. After she completes her mission, Judith takes complete rein over the entire situation. Besides not listening to what the servant says, she goes so far as to humiliate her servant as well. Her success isn’t enough, she has to continue to assert her dominance. The MDQ is definitely answered, because Judith does, in fact, gain complete power over the other two characters by the end of the play.