Megilla 12 Vashti and the Importance of Interpretation

As the rabbis continue to explain the Purim story by line and by word, their creativity is at the forefront of my mind.  They embellish the scroll’s words with stories that are sometimes so far-fetched that I am shocked at their nerve.  These interpretations are accepted as truth both because of the status of our Sages.  However, countless other side-stories could explain the words in the Megilla.  A great responsibility, to have one's interpretations taken as undisputed truth for thousands of years.   

Vashti has been a character with few words but many interpreters.  In today’s daf, we are presented with a specific view of Vashti: libidinous, cruel to the women – especially the Jewish women – who serve  her,  vain, and likely being punished by G-d.   Even thought the text suggests that Vashti is modest, for she does not wish to appear naked before the King and his guests, the rabbis find reason to suggest otherwise.  She developed leprosy just at that moment, perhaps.  Or she grew a tail and was embarrassed.  Is it possible that Vashti was simply a woman who had some power but ultimately was controlled by her King?  According to our Sages, we should see Vashti as wicked, which means sexual, willful, and hurtful.  What do we learn about women from our rabbis' interpretations of Vashti? 

This desire to paint the characters in our history as “all good” or “all bad” is dangerous.  I have always learned that Judaism does not hide from the faults in our ancestors.  But in many circumstances – particularly with regard to ‘secondary’ players – and women are almost always secondary players – we learn a two-dimensional interpretation of their characters.

When I think about the ways that we villainize those who fight against us today, it is easy to recognize this pattern of thought.  It is much easier to argue with a person who is perceived to be ‘different’ from us than to do the same with someone who is 'like us'.  We apologize for those whom we see as similar to us.  We have compassion for them; we understand their motivations.  To paint a person - or a group of people - as wicked is a way of dehumanizing them.  Once we have set another apart from us, we can be sure that we will find little common ground.  

The rabbis go on to describe both the ‘angels’ who are sitting with Achashverosh and the way in which he begins to choose a new wife.