Pinye Salzman has been hired to find a wife for Leo Finkle, yet Salzman seems to have a larger plan. Salzman manipulates Leo into choosing his hellion daughter, which Leo does not seem to catch onto. In the story "The Magic Barrel," Salzman is a God-like figure. His love of fish, his disappearing, his wife's view of him, and redemption helps us see this idea in the story.
Early in the story, we see that Salzman loves fish. Salzman is said to "smell frankly of fish, which he loved to eat"(Malamud 409). Fish are an allusion used throughout the Bible. Biblical fish, especially the Old Testament, stand in for the will and power of God. In Genesis, "God created great whales." In the book of Jonah, Jonah experienced the "giant fish" so that he could follow God's will. The will of Salzman connects Leo to Salzman's daughter, whether Leo knew it or not. Salzman's love for fish shows that there is an underlying theme to him being a God-like figure. It also mentions that he is "not displeasing" even though he smelled strongly of fish. God, while all mighty and all-powerful, is not displeasing to people even with his daunting abilities. .
Salzman seems to disappear and reappear throughout this story. For an older man, he seems to get around quickly "But as if on the wings of the wind, Salzman had disappeared" (Malamud 419). God is omnipresent and can, therefore, be wherever He wants. This trait is seen also in Salzman as he shows up when needed and disappears when unwanted. He is also spoken of as though he is ghost like. Malamud describes Salzman as "appearing haggard, and transparent to the point of vanishing" (Malamud 423). He appears ghostly to Leo just as The Spirit of God may appear to us. .
Finkle learns, from a conversation with Salzman's wife, that Salzman has no true office. Malamud writes, "The matter is urgent. Can you tell me where his office is? 'In the air.
