Yaltha

Yaltha Character Analysis

Quick Facts

Yaltha is Ana's aunt, mentor, and spiritual guide, arriving in Sepphoris from Alexandria with a mysterious past. She is instrumental in Ana's intellectual and spiritual development, embodying the novel's theme of Feminism and Women's Voices. Her key relationships include her niece Ana, her cruel brother Haran, and her long-lost daughter, Chaya/Diodora.

Who She Is

Yaltha is a woman marked by hardship yet radiating inner strength. Exiled from her home in Alexandria, she arrives in Sepphoris carrying the weight of a hidden past. More than just Ana's aunt, she becomes a beacon of wisdom, courage, and rebellious spirit, nurturing the "largeness" within Ana that others seek to extinguish. Yaltha is the catalyst for Ana's awakening, introducing her to forgotten histories, alternative spiritualities, and the revolutionary idea that a woman's voice is sacred.

Personality & Traits

Yaltha possesses a sharp intellect and unyielding spirit, defying the constraints placed upon women in her society. She is a nurturing mentor to Ana, fostering her intellectual and spiritual growth.

• Intellectual and Educated: Yaltha's mind is described as an immense feral country that spilled its borders. Unlike most women of her time, she possesses a vast knowledge of history, philosophy, and the stories of powerful women and goddesses, from Egyptian pharaohs to the Sumerian priestess Enheduanna.
• Rebellious and Defiant: With her "impudent mouth," Yaltha openly challenges patriarchal norms and encourages Ana's "audacities." Her life is a testament to resisting the men who sought to control her, from her abusive husband to her cruel brother, Haran.
• Nurturing Mentor: Yaltha recognizes and celebrates Ana's intellectual gifts, providing her with the tools, courage, and emotional support to pursue her calling. She validates Ana's passion for writing, a stark contrast to the dismissive attitudes of others.
• Spiritually Open-Minded: While Jewish, Yaltha's spirituality is expansive. She introduces Ana to the concept of a female "holy of holies," the goddess Sophia, and the contemplative practices of the Therapeutae, enriching Ana's understanding of the divine and modeling an Alternative Faith and Spirituality.
• Pragmatic and Resourceful: Yaltha is a woman of action, demonstrating her cleverness and ability to navigate a dangerous world. When Ana's writings are threatened, she devises a plan to save them; when Ana is locked in her room, she brews a sleeping potion for the guard.

Character Journey

Yaltha's journey is one of healing and self-discovery. Arriving in Sepphoris as an exile burdened by her past, her relationship with Ana rekindles her spirit and gives her a renewed sense of purpose. Mentoring Ana allows Yaltha to reclaim her own voice and power. Inspired by Ana's pursuit of her longings, Yaltha finds the courage to confront her past and seek out her lost daughter, Chaya. Her decision to remain in Egypt with Diodora signifies the completion of her arc, transforming her from an exile into a woman who has found her home and reassembled her fractured family.

Key Relationships

• Ana: Yaltha's bond with Ana is the heart of the novel. She becomes the mother figure that Ana's own mother, Hadar, could never be, nurturing her intellect and validating her longings. Their relationship highlights the power of female kinship and mentorship, demonstrating how women can empower each other in a patriarchal world.

• Haran: As Yaltha's older brother, Haran is the primary antagonist in her personal story. He embodies the oppressive patriarchal power that Yaltha has spent her life resisting. His cruelty and control, including stealing her inheritance and selling her daughter into slavery, represent the forces that have silenced and marginalized women like Yaltha.

• Chaya/Diodora: Yaltha's lost daughter is the source of her deepest longing and represents her own Search for Self and Personal Longing. The search for Chaya is a journey into Yaltha's past, forcing her to confront her pain and guilt. Their eventual, complicated reunion is the culmination of her life's journey, bringing her both pain and profound peace as she grapples with the consequences of her choices.

Defining Moments

Yaltha's character is defined by moments of courage, vulnerability, and resilience, revealing her strength and shaping her journey.

• The Incantation Bowl: Yaltha gives Ana an incantation bowl, instructing her to write her deepest prayer inside and calling the space within a woman's heart her "holy of holies." This act empowers Ana, setting her on her spiritual path and solidifying Yaltha's role as her mentor.
• Revealing Her Past: Yaltha confesses to Ana about her abusive husband, her prayer for his death, her time with the Therapeutae, and the loss of her daughter. This moment of vulnerability deepens her character and strengthens her bond with Ana, revealing the immense suffering that forged her strength.
• Reuniting with Diodora: After years of believing her daughter was lost forever, Yaltha confronts her fear and finds Diodora serving at the temple of Isis Medica. This emotional reunion is the climax of her personal story, forcing her to reckon with the past and the choices she made.
• Choosing to Stay in Egypt: At the end of the novel, when Ana prepares to return to Galilee, Yaltha makes the difficult decision to stay in Egypt with Diodora. This choice signifies that she has finally found her own home and family, completing her journey from exile to belonging.

Symbolism

Yaltha embodies the silenced woman of history – the scholar, philosopher, and spiritual leader whose voice has been suppressed by patriarchy. She represents female wisdom, resilience, and the power of matrilineal knowledge passed down through generations. Her stories of powerful women and her introduction of the goddess Sophia serve to reclaim a lost feminine spiritual heritage. She is the embodiment of the "largeness" she encourages in Ana, a testament to a woman's ability to create her own meaning and find her own voice against all odds.

Essential Quotes

"A man’s holy of holies contains God’s laws, but inside a woman’s there are only longings... Write what’s inside here, inside your holy of holies."

This quote encapsulates Yaltha's feminist theology, suggesting that a woman's desires and aspirations are sacred and worthy of expression. By encouraging Ana to write her longings, Yaltha empowers her to embrace her inner self and challenge societal expectations.

"Return to your longing. It will teach you everything."

Yaltha emphasizes the importance of embracing one's desires as a path to self-discovery and fulfillment. This quote highlights the novel's central theme of the power of longing and its ability to guide individuals toward their true purpose.

"Your moment will come, and when it does, you must seize it with all the bravery you can find."

This quote speaks to Yaltha's belief in Ana's potential and her encouragement to seize opportunities for self-expression and empowerment. It underscores the importance of courage and determination in the face of adversity.

"It isn’t the largeness in you that matters most, it’s your passion to bring it forth."

Yaltha emphasizes that potential is not enough; it is the drive to realize that potential that truly matters. This quote highlights the importance of action and the courage to express one's true self.

"My own largeness has been to bless yours."

This quote reveals Yaltha's selflessness and her dedication to nurturing Ana's growth. It speaks to the power of mentorship and the profound impact that one woman can have on another's life.