The author of Esther was a master storyteller, using such elements as description, humour, satire, irony, excesses, suspense and action to present the story. The story can be seen as narrative literature in its content, style and scope—but with almost no direct speech, unlike other Old Testament narrative books. Hebrew narrative often mentions events and facts without further explanation or clarification by the author, and describes characters concisely and soberly, without commentary, and with character conveyed through words and actions. The book of Esther does not explore the thoughts, feelings and intentions of Esther and Mordecai, nor does the author either excuse or condemn them, expecting readers to discover certain aspects of their character and actions for themselves. As for events, those are also left to readers to interpret.
The author of Esther was a master of the art of storytelling. He used various elements such as descriptions, humour, satire, irony, excesses, suspense and action to present the story. The story can be seen as narrative literature 1 on the basis of content, style and scope, with the difference that there is almost no direct speech in it, as in other Old Testament narrative books. In Hebrew narrative literature, events and facts are often mentioned without further explanation or clarification by the author, and characters are usually described in compact and sober terms, without commentary; their character becomes apparent from their words and actions. The book of Esther does not expand on the thoughts, feelings and intentions of Esther and Mordecai, and neither does the author reveal his own opinion about these characters. They are not excused or condemned, so one must discover certain aspects of their character and actions for oneself. The events narrated are not explained in detail; the reader/listener should himself form an opinion and draw conclusions about them.2
Esther is a literary work of art. The book is a complex piece of literature in which literary techniques such as structure, composition, symmetry, chiasmus, form, similarities, repetitions and contrasts play a major role. These are not only means to create the story, but also serve to express its meaning.
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1 C'était du temps d'Assuérus, de cet Assuérus qui régnait depuis l'Inde jusqu'en Ethiopie sur cent vingt-sept provinces;