Judith: A Parting From The Body Responce

            In Howard Barker’s play, Judith: A Parting From The Body, I believe that the major dramatic question is ‘Will Judith be able to abandon her inhibitions?’

             As the play progress we learn that Judith has come into Holofernes’ tent the night before a major battle against Israel to assassinate him. She does not act out her goal right away because she says that she has fallen in love with Holofernes and understands him now on some level. Holofernes and Judith share a moment and talk about how they both lie all of the time. Judith’s Servant ends up convincing her to kill Holofernes by telling her that he was smiling at her and in a sense mocking her.  The Servant was lying Holofernes was not smiling. Judith then commits the deed of stabbing Holofernes therefore letting go of some of her inhibitions, but the play does not end here. That is because Judith still has some things holding her back.

            After she has committed the act Judith goes on to have almost a panic attack. She tries to have sex with the now dead and beheaded Holofernes. The Servant tries to calm her down and get her back on track. I feel during this part Judith is having misgivings about what she has done. In the end with the Servant’s help Judith comes to terms with what she has done. She then regains control of the situation and the Servant. The play ends with Judith still hesitating before leaving the tent. I think this shows that even at the very end of the play she is still fighting with her self, but in the end she does abandons her inhibitions fully and exits the tent.