Joseph+and+Potiphar's+Wife

**Joseph and Potiphar's Wife **  Why do people do what they do? What are the real motivations behind half the actions that are fraught with lies to cover up the truth? This question will not be answered for all of the situations that are unclear, but the truth behind Potiphar's Wife lie of Joseph attempting to rape her will be revealed in the conversation that never happened in the Genesis. This conversation written below not only reveals Potiphar's wife's real reasoning, but analysis and deep insight into the personality of the characters, Potiphar's Wife and Joseph. Beginning with a chart outlining the characters and insight of their actions depicted in Genesis and a painting by Guido Reni, the project will flow into the hidden script between the two characters before all of the drama, before everything went "down". The project will end with an analysis of the dialogue, leaving the reader with a sense of edification and the secret that no one else knows.

**The Audio-Cast: media type="file" key="lovelies.mp3" width="287" height="23"**

**The Chart: **

**The Analysis:** In a painting and passage from the Bible, an idea develops that due to her desire for control, Potiphar’s wife uses deceit to achieve her goals. In his painting, Guido Reni depicts Potiphar’s wife seizing Joseph’s garment with an unbreakable gaze and rock tight grasp as he turns to flee for the door ignoring her desires. Potiphar’s wife’s blood-drained hand grasping his garment, reveals the effort and strength she exerts trying to pull back Joseph, suggesting her also strong craving for control. Much like Potiphar’s desire for control, God himself reflects the same trait as he promises wealth and prosperous life for the Israelites if they agree to obey him. God’s trade for obedience and power among the Israelites reveal his greed for power because he easily gave away the greatest amenities in life that are supposed to be prize results of years of grueling work. God as well as modern figures, Omar al-Bashir, dictator of Sudan, and Kim Jong-il, dictator of North Korea, confirm that the craving for control exists beyond the Bible, but also in the world we live in today.

In some situations, this craving for control can grow so strong that people, especially Potiphar’s wife resort to trickery in order to obtain their goals. In this case, when Joseph flees despite Potiphar’s orders, she “saw that he had left his garment in her hand…[she] called out… ‘He came in to me to lie with me and I cried out’” (Gen. 9.15). “Called,” reveals that the others in her vicinity did not hear her supposed “cry out” so, therefore, she resorted to screaming out calumny using his garment as deceptive evidence to gain as much attention as possible. In most attempted rape cases or rape cases, the victim has suffered such mental and physical pain that they do not have the mental ability to “call out” or even run away, but rather lay shivering, scarred, and frightened. Much like Potiphar’s wife, many women in the Bible use deceit to achieve their goals, such as Rebekah, who disguises Jacob in Esau’s clothes so that her favorite son would receive the blessing. Even beyond the Bible men and women deceive each other daily, by telling one another the wrong way to study or the wrong way to go, just to get ahead of another and have the greater advantage of success in the end. Never underestimate the power of human greed.

Since Joseph has very high moral standards, he fears all situations that appear to contradict his beliefs. Joseph constantly gets harassed by Potiphar’s wife to lie with her, but he refuses each time stating Potiphar has never doubted his faith, “‘nor had he kept back anything from [him]…How then could [Joseph] do this great wickedness?’” (Gen. 38.9). “Wickedness,” Joseph’s word choice for what he though of adultery, conveys his perspective on the severity of the situation, how he views it as evil and unthinkable. His perspective in turn reveals his high morals, because many others would view the escalation of the situation on a much smaller scale, that being adultery occurring daily in America without as much thought and morality as Joseph has put in. Although similar to Joseph, Abraham shows morals when he begs God to save Sodom for the life of one righteous man, instead of letting them suffer without any thought. In modern society morals are tested daily with teens and peer pressure in drugs, sex, and alcohol, because there will always be those who do not value their morals and in turn test others who do. The choice of right and wrong is then up to the individual whether he will break under the influence or fight to preserve his morals.

Joseph’s high moral standards, Joseph questions his surrounding people’s motives, causing him to become highly agitated, thus making him wary all the time, his agitation now fear. In his painting, Guido Reni paints Joseph in a fleeing stance towards the door with a plastered mask of fear as Potiphar’s wife attempts to drag him in to lie with her. Joseph’s foot position angle, legs bent ready to run, reveals his dread in the situation and his frightened attitude in life. Much like Joseph, other patriarchs in the story fear situations, such as frightened Abraham who faked his relations with Sarah when conversing with the Pharaoh. In reality today, everyone fears a situation once in their life, ready to flee at any moment, especially when it comes to being new in a world of experienced people.

**The Artist:** Guido Reni, a renowned artist of Europe, born in 1575 in Italy can be often recognized for his most famous religious works and depictions of mythological scenes. His interest in painting began at the age of 9 and 11 years later it was not surprising that he easily made the Carracci Academy. His fame quickly took off and he began to paint for churches and received large commissions. Guido would continue to paint his whole life until his eventually death in 1642 in Bologna. A perfectionist and elegant painter, Guido’s artwork will be loved and admired forever. For further information on Guido Reni: http://www.nndb.com/people/715/000104403/ For further artwork on Guido Reni: http://www.wga.hu/frames-e.html?/html/r/reni/index.html

**The Script:** Love, Lies, and Other Disasters

Exposition: Narrator: The sun begins to set in Egypt as innocent Joseph enters the house of Potiphar, his master, who left him in charge while he was away. Little did he know, what Potiphar's wife would soon do, and what it would lead to. He thought that they would argue a little bit and that would be that, not at all did he expect the run-in at the doorway to lead to such a future. Text: Potiphar's wife (PW) Joseph (J)

J: Good day my lady.

PW: Nice afternoon, huh? // (Sarcastically) // J: My lady, this afternoon I noticed a crop in the field was eaten by an animal. Oh, I hope that animal does not eat more. What if it is a big animal? What if it is dangerous? Oh no, Potiphar would be mad-- // (frightened voice) //

PW: Seriously? Chill out. // (off a whim, slightly sarcastic) // It was me! I took a walk this morning and I was hungry. So I ate it.

J: Well my lady, what if you ate a different plant? How are we sure that it was you? Oh no- I better go check.

PW: Joseph, it is not a big deal stay inside; the rain is coming in anyhow.

J: My lady, I have to be sure-What if I am wrong? Oh no- what if Potiphar gets mad at me? I am going--

PW: Cmon' there are much better things to do with you time... like--Joseph! Get back in here! ( // discussion heating up) //

J: But m-- // (rain in background) //

PW: Joseph! I am your master. You will do what I say. // (very matter-of-fact) // You will not go outside. You will stay in the house, and you will help the other slaves clean for Potiphar's return. Now go!

J: But my lady, he strictly makes me tend the fields because he knows that I cannot organize my own slave quarter--what if I clean the house the wrong way? What if--

PW: Fine. It is that or your other option.

J: My lady, what option are you referring to? ( // politely) //

PW: I told you that if you lie with me I will be more lenient on your duties, so what is it going to be? ( // impatiently) //

J: My lady, we went over this before. I am forever loyal to your husband for he has never treated me badly. I could and would never commit adultery, such a sinful act.

PW: Haha. // (brusquely) // I have reasoned with you and given you options. Not anymore. You will lie with me. Now let's go. Now. // (Pulling Joseph to bedroom) //

J: My lady, no please let me go; this is so wrong, no please, I fear what would come of such wickedness--

PW: Come with me or else I will have everyone in this house turned against you and make your slave life a living hell.

J: My lady, please think of your husband, think of what this would do to him.

PW: My husband? You think I do not know he has slept with many women other than me? The only reason he cares that I not sleep around is for his own reputation. I am the one who sent him the note from "King Abimelech" about a fake meeting so I could just get his dirty face away from here. // (laughing/sarcastic voice/voice escalating, like "you think i'm stupid?!?) //

J: My lady, exactly what I mean. Think of your honor. You will be doing exactly what makes you hate him. You will be no better than he.Think of the tarnish this would put on your perfect reputation. // (exasperated and choppy) //

PW: Spit it out--What are you trying to say? // (roughly) //

J: My lady that is why he does not respect you. Look at yourself now, trying to sleep with slaves that you fancy. You do not even respect yourself, so why would anyone ever give you the honor that you do not deserve?

PW: Wha--

J: My lady please, think about it. Once you do this, you can never go back. Never complain of the respect that you have not been given. Never-- ( // chopping yet hanging words from pleas in the voice) //

PW: Enough. // (quietly yet forcefully/irritated) // You have said enough. Just go, leave, you were never here-- // (Jacob leaving) //

J: Thank--

PW: Stop. [ // pause] // How do I know that you will keep your word and not tell anyone of this?

J: My lady, I promise--

PW: No, [ // pause] // we must make a covenant. I will do one thing for you in exchange for your word, so what will it be?

J: My lady, there is one thing that I could use your help with. You see I have been having strange dreams these past nights and my interpretations tell me that I must go to jail to receive my destined future. As you know, I myself could never commit a crime, but how else can I get inside?

PW: I have an idea. Give me your garment and I will do the rest... // (mysterious yet resolving tune) //

**The Dialogue Analysis:** The dialogue, “Love, Lies, and Other Disasters,” reveals that because Joseph fears trouble and upsetting others, he has high moral standards so that he will never get into such a predicament. Joseph shatters the mood at the end of a perfect day when he begins to fret about the assumption that “an animal ate one of the crops in the field” (Liu 1) and that “Potiphar [will] be mad” (Liu 1). Joseph’s agitated personality about the one crop in the entire field gone missing and that Potiphar will in turn blame him, reveals how he worries about any slight problem that might upset another whether or not he is at fault. Joseph also shows his fear of angering others when he never argues with the Pharaoh about any matters, and instead easily and discreetly manipulates the situation to keep everyone at peace. In example, he knew the Pharaoh did not want give Joseph's family the land inside the city so Joseph told him that his family members were farmers and got Goshen for his family, resulting in a win-win situation. This fear trouble can also be seen by the Israelites whom always obey God’s orders and requests.

When Joseph began to fear that trouble in his work, he made moral standards that would protect him from trouble with his master, thus being to stay away and refuse the request of Potiphar’s wife. Potiphar’s wife tries to seduce Joseph again, but her quickly rejects her because “[he] is forever loyal to [her] husband for [Potiphar] has never treated [him] badly” (Liu 2). Joseph’s loyalty toward Potiphar reveals the strength of his moral standards, because even amongst pressure from Potiphar’s wife and the threat of his position, he stands strong as a wall and does not give in. Joseph’s moral standards can also be seen when he forgives his brothers and maintains peace instead of taking revenge on their sins. Morality is more questionable with other characters in the Bible, as characters such as Rebekah and Rachel, who deceive and steal, letting the ID and immoral judgment overrule their Superego and morality.

**The Reflection:** Upon starting this project, I felt that the two most important aspects of the project were that it focused on highly on the creativity of the dialogue, but also the ability to interpret and create hints and words that express personality. Fortunately, my ability to think of something creative and mysterious would reflect my strength because I love thinking of new ideas and adding more depth to the story without changing the original work. For example, I really wanted add to the Odyssey the way Margaret Atwood, the author of the Penelopiad, wrote about the secret behind the maids and the truth behind their actions. Seeing that a theme in the Bible was truth, I thought that it would be nice to emphasize the idea even more by adding another truth behind one of the character's actions. Consequently, I wanted to reveal to the readers why Pothiphar's wife had accused Joseph of rape, and change their views on her as a person as Atwood swayed me to believe the maids were actually loyal and innocent. At this point in the project my weakness took over because I constantly struggle in analysis on how and why.

Especially in this project, not only would I have to analyze a photo along with dialogue, but also I would have to create my own dialogue revealing the traits in context clues which I would also have to analyze. The worst part was when I had to analyze my dialogue. This resulted from my non-professional writing style which did not contain the dynamic words that would be strong enough for me to analyze. Being that I rely on the "one word" analysis and expanding, I really struggled to explain my dialogue as precisely and specifically as possible without using my "one word" analysis. Besides my being overwhelmed from looking at the rubric, I approach this project weaker than I was strong. Although, I took a deep breath and realized that this project would be due in 5 months and that exactly what I needed. I would work on the project each weekend for an hour or two and slowly complete each step with as much thought as possible. Before I knew it, I am sitting here writing the last part to my project, the project I thought I would never finish. As for the part where I overcame my weakness of analyzing, I have not. I tried my hardest and gave it my best effort, which I believes counts in the long run. In the end, I learned that great things really do come to those that wait. One day with patience and all my effort, I will be able to analyze and feel confident about my papers and written pieces.

**The Citations:** Cartoon. //Reverend Fun//. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 May 2010. .

Cigoli, Lodovico. //Joseph and Potiphar's Wife//. 1610. Oil on canvas.

//Cornfields, cornfields and more cornfields, as you drive through Illinois//. 2006. Photograph.

//The New Oxford Annotated Bilble//. New York: Oxford University Press, 2007. Print.

"Reni, Guido: Biography." //Web Gallery of Art//. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 May 2010. 

Reni, Guido. //Joseph and Potiphar's Wife//. 1631. Oil on canvas.

Reni, Guido. //Portrait of Guido Reni//. 1603. Oil on canvas.

//The Truth is Out There//. N.d. //The New Voice//. Web. 15 May 2010. .

//Whisper shh silhouette women tell secrets//. 2009. Clip Art Photograph.