Lately Goethe entered my life and provides a critique that makes reality hilarious.
The Sorrows of young Werther, Goethe’s first widely read novel, ended with the suicide of poor emotional Werther, and caused the suicide of at least 2,000 of its readers. Now that is what I call success.
Goethe, of course, was not very pleased (he was losing devoted readers) and neither were the authorities that had to collect all these bodies of successful Werther wannabes, and to try to reduce this Werther fever. That was Germany in the late 1700s.
A new Werther Fever outbreak has occurred in Greece of 2008. This time the suicides were unsuccessful. A wave of unsuccessful suicides, this time not inspired from a book on unfulfilled love but from a DVD on fulfilled passions. I rather not go into detail, especially because the corrupt politician starring in it is fat and naked.
The scandal involved sex, money, and little favours. The media focused like always to the one that sells the most.
These right wing government officials unsuccessfully tried to take their shame to a different world, since this one would not vote for them again despite the entertainment value of their unlawful deeds. Maybe they can go govern in one of the seven circles of hell. I am not saying they are evil and have to go to hell. It is just that heaven is a divine monarchy. Hell is much more democratic, pluralistic and has catch-all parties! Thus corrupt politicians stand a chance of winning the hellish elections.
However they failed to succeed. Or, since life is the highest of all commodities, they succeeded by failing.
The question remains though, since they were incompetent to even kill themselves effectively… what does this tell us about the effectiveness of the right-wing government that chooses such incompetent people for important positions?
3 comments:
I don't believe that there is any connection between the suicidal "Werthers" and the desperate people who cannot stand their name being covered by mud...don't do the crime if you can't do the time!!!!!!
Does football save lives? I was reading that suicide figures decline in the years a national team plays in a World Cup or Euro championship, regardless of success or faliure of the national team. Is football the critical variable, no. But community and sense of belonging to something may help those otherwise suceptable to suicide.
I am assuming that football was not so popular at Goethe's times. Now, greek politicians who can't stand being humiliated on TV wont be served by football either. But in general I think football has offered a lot to society, in terms of community feeling and of course in the case of Germans, rebirth of national identity. It should be studied more!
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