Vashti: More mystery than history

(Vashti Refuses the King's Summons)

Even if we assume that the Book of Esther is somewhat factual, the characterization of Queen Vashti seems far more imbued with mystery than history.  In essence, she is practically a blank slate

upon which poets, feminists, theologists, novelists, and numerous others have projected their theories.

All that we really “know” about Vashti comes from these few lines within the Book of Esther:  Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house… (from 1:9)  …her beauty: for she was fair to look on. (1:11)  But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s commandment by his chamberlains… (1:12)  And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti… (2:4)

From the little bit of story surrounding these few lines, poet James Weldon Johnson wove a drama all his own.  He assumed that Vashti was banished from the kingdom for disobeying her royal husband in so public a manner.  Johnson then continued the story from the years-later

perspective of Vashti’s former servant.  This servant, who had “served low at her feet” while marveling at her “radiance like the star of morning” – met up with Vashti once again in the “stern land” they both now inhabited.  She was no longer a queen, and he was no longer her servant – yet the gulf between them seemed ironically wider than ever.

A little too depressing?  Then perhaps this other poem by Frances E. W. Harper might ease the heartstrings.  Harper’s Vashti was a proud and determined woman who also found herself on the homeless side of the palace doors.  After the king had commanded that she leave, “Strong in her earnest womanhood, she calmly met her fate…”  Ever “Proud of her spotless name,” Harper’s Vashti valiantly remained “A woman who could bend to grief, But would not bow to shame.”

None less than Harriet Beecher Stowe  jumped on the Vashti-makeover bandwagon.  According to Stowe,

Vashti was not only a feminist – but also a prototype feminist whose disobedience marked “the first stand for women’s rights.”

 Resources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vashti

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Bible/Esther.html

http://poetry.poetryx.com/poems/14219/

http://www.poemhunter.com/best-poems/james-weldon-johnson/vashti-2/

Copyright March 7, 2012 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved