LIFE AND DEATH IN THE LIFE OF MALCHUS

In Jerome's short Vita Malchi (Life of Malchus), there are surprisingly many references to death. These references will be discussed in context. It seems that the death theme can be regarded as a Leitmotiv in this work. Jerome's Vita Malchi provides a first person account by Malchus, whose life is threatened in various ways: by his abductors who kidnapped him and handed him over to a slave master; by the slave master and his attendant; by wild animals; and even by Malchus himself, who was prepared to commit suicide as a martyr to chastity. Apart from these physical threats, Malchus also experienced a spiritual threat which he regarded to be even more serious than physical death. He is willing to die rather than losing his chastity by marrying a fellow slave who was captured with him and given to him by his master. In a paradoxical way, according to Malchus's perspective, which stands in stark contrast to that of his parents and slave owner, true life is to be found in chastity and the monastery, while losing chastity would mean spiritual death, which is worse than physical death for Malchus and his companion.