Isaac's Obsession with Money in Ivanhoe

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Isaac's Obsession with Money in Ivanhoe

Sir Walter Scott's riveting classic, Ivanhoe, is a wonderfully woven story of battles, adventure, comedy, and love. In this story we encounter Robin Hood, Richard the Lion-Hearted, Prince John, and some less known but important characters. The reader meets Cedric the Saxon, who is guardian to the beautiful Rowena, and his swine herder Gurth along with his fool friend Wamba. In their adventures throughout the book they meet a feeble old man. He is a Jew. Rebecca is his beautiful daughter. Together they live in a fancy house of great wealth. For you see, Isaac is a very wealthy Jew, who is very much in love with his money.

We first learn of Isaac's love for money right after he is introduced. He arrives at the home of Cedric the Saxon, and sleeps in the room next to the Palmer. Awakened by the Palmer, who tells Isaac about a plan to take his life, they leave in the early morning and proceed to the city of Sheffield. When they arrive, Isaac thanks the Palmer and tells him that he cannot pay him much, but will give what little he has. The Palmer denies payment but Isaac insists on giving him a horse and bridle.

Isaac's love for his money is great enough that he would not pay even a little sum of money to someone who did him a favor. After the first day of the tournament, the Disinherited Knight has Gurth return the money they borrowed from Isaac. Gurth arrives at the house. Isaac asks how much money Gurth has in his money bag and demands all of it for payment. While Isaac is counting out the eighty zecchins, he almost gives one to Gurth for bringing the money, but can't find it in his heart to do so. Gurth leaves and on his way out Isaac's daughter gives Gurth eighty zecchins to give to his master and twenty for himself.

Isaac cannot bear parting with his money, even if it means dying for it. While being held captive in a castle, his captor asks for money in exchange for his freedom. Isaac cries out that he can get the money, but must go to his brothers from his tribe to borrow it! Why does he need to borrow money when he has so much?

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