The Magic Barrel

Title: The Magic Barrel
Author: Bernard Malamud

The story tells about a rabbinical student who had for six years
devoted himself almost entirely to his study. He was Leo Finkle. After
he realized that no time for a social life and the company of young
women, he decided to call Pinye Salzman who was a matchmaker. He asked
Salzman to look for a woman who was matched for him. Salzman had many
cards from men and women who wanted to look for a couple. The cards
were saved in a barrel. Salzman gave Leo some portfolios to choose,
but there was no one matches with him. He said, ‘this one was too old,
this one was a widow, and other words that showed disagreement.” Leo
almost gave up having matchmaking because he didn’t find his soul mate
yet. The last effort of Salzman, he gave some pictures of women to Leo
in an envelope. Leo was doubt to open it, but he actually opened it
and found a picture among others which made him excited. He asked
Salzman to meet a woman in that picture. Salzman refused it and said
that the woman wasn’t for him because she was a wild woman. Actually,
until this story ended, Leo still didn’t find a match woman to be his
couple.

Personal Response
I don’t like Leo’s character which is perfectionist in choosing a
couple. It makes him difficult to find his couple. I agree that we
have to be selective to look for someone who would be our couple, but
don’t too be selective and perfectionist. We have to realize that no
one is perfect in the world.

by Dian Tri