The woman at the well : a critical reading of John 4

Abstract

In this essay we will try to analyse the main themes found in Jn 4. In doing so, we hope to show that Jn 4 is an important chapter in the narrative of the Fourth Gospel. We will read this chapter from a feministic perspective in order to illustrate the important role of women in this episode. Our first task is to compare the Gospel of John with the Synoptics, especially in the way they present certain themes. We will see whether John was writing independently from the Synoptics or not. We will analyse how they differ in presenting certain themes, especially personal encounters that we find in both the Synoptics and the Gospel of John. Our focus will be the Samaritan woman and her encounter with Jesus. We will present her role as one of the first disciples who accepted Jesus' invitation, who was ready to spread the Word of God to the other Samaritans, and therefore as the first witness to Jesus even before the twelve apostles. In the second chapter we hope to show the importance of women given in the Gospel of John, in contrast to the Synoptic Gospels. Then, in the third chapter we hope to show the encounter of the Samaritan woman from a historical point of view. We will analyse the situation and the background of the Samaritans. In chapter four we will analyse the structure of the encounter of the Samaritan woman with Jesus. We will divide our presentation in four parts. In doing so, we hope that we will have a better picture of both Jesus and the Samaritan woman. In chapter five we will probe the symbolic experience between the bride - the Samaritan woman and the bridegroom - Jesus. We will do this through different narratives found in the Old Testament. We will conclude Jn 4 by an invitation.