Murder and Prejudice: “The Butcher’s Tale” by Helmut Smith Essay

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The butcher’s tale is a vey interesting book that revolves around different dramatic explorations. In fact, the German town ends up embroiled in an anti-Semitic passion. All events in the book can be traced to1990 in a small town whereby a young boy (Ernst Winteris) is found dead.

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It should be known that the murdered boys’ body is found in a very bad shape because it was dismembered and blood drained from its limbs. This event happens in Konitz, Prussia where the body was discovered by two townsfolk. Most notably, the tied package is discovered near a lake.

The body had been disposed of as a package that contained the upper parts of the young boy. Other body parts that were not in the package are found dispersed throughout the town wrapped in packing paper that is used for meat (Smith 21). The authorities in the town had a strong belief that the lad was killed by a local Christian butcher. On the other hand, there are false rumors that spread beyond the towns’ borders that the boy was murdered by Jews.

In this case, the rumor alleges that Jews murdered him to perform some ancient rituals. They believe that this was mostly used in the baking of Passover matzo. These rumors were taken seriously by Christians and this led to riots and other violent acts. Most of these violent acts were directed towards the Jewish community that was believed to be behind the murder.

All Christians rose up against the Jews because they did not like what they were hearing. As a matter of fact, it should be known that all Jews were accused of ritual murder. In this case, this is the blood-libel charge that has followed and haunted Jews for many years. Smith has been able to reconstruct the murder and events that followed.

This is well done in a narrative that culminates into the ensuing storm of anti-Semitism. The most surprising occurrence is the fact that this violent acts occurred in a rather peaceful town (Smith 34). These acts of violence that engulf the town can be described in different forms and terms like hysteria, hatred and bigotry.

The book is a modern parable that will continue being relevant as time goes by. This is because it relates well with modern day occurrences that have been triggered by simple events and happenings. A chain of events that follows after the discovery of the body bring national attention to the village in the most unimaginable way. This is because after weeks, the public expected the motive or suspect to be offered which does not happen.

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After no explanation is offered, the vacuum is filled by dangerous rumors that lead to violent acts and events. Most of these events that can be described as flames are fanned by the arrival of journalists. Journalists who arrive at the scene are mostly anti-Semitic which makes people believe that the murder was done by Jews for rituals. It is narrated that there is a police inspector who suspected the murder was done by a Christian butcher but he and his friends ended up accusing the Jewish butcher (Smith 44).

As far as the book is concerned, the first victims of these violent attacks were Jews from Konitz. In fact, as time went by, the Prussian army was forced to come in and restore order.

Their main agenda was to quell the violence that was spreading fast. Smith has helped us to understand the events that were occurring by analyzing the history of the blood libel (Smith 99). This blood libel revolves around an assumption that most Jews commit ritual murder of Christians. In this case, victims of these murders are young children who are considered vulnerable.

Our society has various beliefs that guide the way people relate and this are issues that emerge from this book. This means that there are cases where small things can be magnified to suit different interests. In fact, this is a true manifestation of how people can come together to bring good things or even genuine evil. Konitz is a good case study of how people can come together to advance their anti-Semitic interests.

Different forces are able to gang up and incite peaceful people to turn on their neighbors whom they have known for a long time. As much as these townspeople might not be having an intention to commit such violent acts, they are united by the anti-Semitic forces and the need to protect their faith and brothers.

There are other factors that lead to violence and this has been well analyzed by Smith. For instance, societal conflicts can be brought about by the middle versus working class and on the other hand Protestants versus Catholics. From the book, the response of town people to the rumor is in itself some ritual murder.

The term ritual murder seems and looks like some barbaric act that can not be seen in the current advanced world but this will continue being witnessed as time goes by. Superstition and wild fancy have always accompanied such acts of violence from different parts of the world which needs proper analysis and review (Redles 67). As much as Eastern Germany was characterized by industrialization and scientific advancements, such barbaric acts were still encountered and witnessed.

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The government should be commended for its response because it was able to protect Jews from the ongoing violent acts through the deployment of the army. In a broad perspective, the government refused to entertain the idea of a ritual murder which is something that was not expected in the Hitler era.

The main motive of all key actors and characters in the book has been well explored by Smith which is insightful as far as understanding the narrative is concerned. We can therefore conclude that this is an outright murder mystery that ends up with no concrete answer or solution as expected of other crime activities. This is because the writer has been able to painstakingly explore all alternatives without a foreseeable solution.

The story book is a striking recreation of a very sad episode that starts out as a normal crime activity but ends up with violence bringing national attention to a sleepy village (Smith 126). In this case, the crime incident leads to unapproved accusations that encourage some acts of violence. All in all, the Jewish community and population is exposed to anti-Semitic rioting which can happen anywhere around the world as long as we have competing self interests from different individuals.

Evidence is collected in a minute detail by the police without proper investigations thereby turning a very personal issue into a big societal case. This means that people can end up turning local quarrels into structured attacks that threaten the foundation upon which the society is built on (Redles 89).

Vicious attacks can be turned on a weaker case every now and then which is properly illustrated by the Jewish community who are victims in the book (Smith 200). Generalizations can always be expected to justify different activities but this should never take such a bad course.

This is because the use of scapegoats to justify certain events is common around the world which should not be encouraged to persist. The author has tried to relate events that happened t o historical facts and this are things that can help us in conflict resolution because people are bound to disagree on various issues and aspects. The book can therefore be recommended for people who want to understand historical occurrences that have shaped the world as time goes by.

The story that is being told in the book has been neglected by different authors and historical books yet it is important in our society. Events that followed this murder have been debated by different people and this formed the bedrock of Nazi propaganda in a broad way.

Smith got an opportunity to write to a wider audience which has enabled us to understand how people whip up emotions. The book educates and enlighten us effectively because there are people who engage in violent activities after being told to so by different opinion leaders.

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It should be known that we have diverse and competing interests that should never take control of our thinking to fan hatred among peaceful people (Redles 113). Popular opinion should not dictate what people ought to do because we should be able to decide what is good for us. All in all, Smith notes that we should not be guided by rumor, anger and ignorance because this is bound to disrupt peaceful co-existence in the society.

Works Cited

Redles, David. Hitler’s Millennial Reich: Apocalyptic Belief and the Search for Salvation. New York: University Press, 2005. Print.

Smith, Helmut. The Butcher’s Tale: Murder and Anti-Semitism in a German Town. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2003. Print.

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