Lessons for politicians from Shakespeare

 

Anwar Ibrahim, as I said in my previous column, is fond of quoting William Shakespeare.

Now that he has achieved his ambition of becoming prime minister, I’m sure he will be reminded often of one of the Bard’s most famous quotes: “Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown.”

This is largely because he heads the government at a tumultuous time – both in the arena of politics and the economy.

He has to address the rising cost of living and prepare for an expected global economic downturn, if not recession, this year. He has to convince investors that Malaysia is stable enough and its policies consistent enough for them to invest here. He has to create more jobs.

On the political front, Perikatan Nasional and his political foes are waiting to see his government fall, perhaps even working for this to happen. There are likely to be Trojan horses within the ruling coalition of coalitions and parties known as the unity government.

He never knows when, like Caesar in Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar”, he will turn around in surprise, or shock, and utter, “Et Tu Brute?”

There are plenty of lessons in Shakespeare’s plays for all of us, including politicians. And they are as relevant today as they were when the Bard was alive.

Some of his plays clearly revolve around power and ruling class tyranny, something that is still relevant today. A good number of his works deal with kings, queens, leadership and affairs of the state.

A reading of Macbeth – a few lines from which Anwar quoted in Parliament recently – should, for instance, remind politicians and us of the need to keep greed and ambition in check. It is okay to be ambitious but it must not be overweening and it must not cross ethical lines.

Macbeth crosses the line and pays for it. The general in the Scottish army is told by three witches that he would be promoted to the position of Thane (Lord) of Cawdor and soon thereafter become the king of Scotland.

When the first prophecy comes true, Macbeth’s ambition goes on overdrive and he and his wife decide to make the second come true speedily. They murder the king and blame others.

Macbeth is forced to commit more murders to keep the throne and although he sits as king, there is no peace of mind. In the end his wife goes mad and commits suicide and he himself is killed in battle.

Politicians and others in a competitive environment can take it as a warning against employing foul means to achieve their ambitions.

It shows how decent people – like the Macbeths – can swiftly be trapped in their own greed and burning ambition, resulting in their fall.

And we have seen in our own nation how decent politicians, or their wives, goaded by anxious ambition or charmed by the power they hold, over time, abuse their positions.

We have seen how one mistake is covered up by another and another; how one lie leads to another and another.

Macbeth is not just about the corrupting influence of power but also a warning that those who abuse their power will face the consequences sooner or later. And it is very much about the need to have a moral compass.

Macbeth did not have patience and his overweening ambition as well as lust for power – plus his wife’s desire to be queen and her ruthlessness – led to his downfall.

The importance of patience is also found in other plays, including Othello. The tragic titular character of the play is told his wife is cheating on him but instead of being patient and investigating it in a rational manner – he initially is pictured as a rational person – he loses his judgment in a fit of jealousy based on the words of Iago, a man with selfish motives.

At one point in the play, Iago tells another character:

“How poor are they that have not patience!

“What wound did ever heal but by degrees?

“Thou know’st we work by wit and not by witchcraft,

“And wit depends on dilatory time.”

Politicians, therefore, should pause and reflect before acting on any information or news. They should not jump to conclusions, as Othello did, but investigate and ascertain the truth of whatever they hear or read.

How should someone who is given a responsible position behave? Shakespeare indicates this in Henry IV part 2. Prince Hal, the future King Henry V, is given to merriment and drinking. He loves the company of Falstaff – a likeable fat, dishonest, scoundrel and drunkard who sometimes passes insightful remarks.

As prince, he enjoys the company of Falstaff and others of similar ilk even when Falstaff misuses the friendship. Falstaff looks forward to the day Prince Hall will ascend the throne so that he can abuse his position even more. However, after becoming King Henry V, Hal rejects Falstaff and begins to prioritise the people’s welfare.

In no uncertain terms he tells Falstaff, and all others present:

“Presume not that I am the thing I was;

“For God doth know, so shall the world perceive,

“That I have turn’d away my former self;

“. . . I banish thee, on pain of death,

“As I have done the rest of my misleaders,

“Not to come near our person by ten mile.”

A responsible leader will not allow scoundrels – no matter how likeable – anywhere near the seat of power. A responsible leader will not only turn his or her back on bad influences and crooked company but will also drop inappropriate habits and activities.

The play King Lear has a great message for Cabinet ministers and those in position, and their advisers, about flattery and not speaking up.

When the ageing Lear decides to divide his kingdom between his three daughters, he asks them to publicly declare how much they love him, adding that the one who gives the best answer would get a bigger share.

The elder two voice their abounding and fulsome love for him, placing him right at the top.

When Lear asks his third daughter Cordelia what answer she would give for him to grant her a bigger share, she replies: “Nothing, my Lord.” An unhappy Lear presses her until she says that she loves and obeys him as a daughter should.

She then asks how her sisters can say they love only their father as they are married. Don’t they love their husbands then, she asks. She goes on to say that when she gets married, she would give her husband half her love and care and that she therefore cannot say she would only love her father.

She tells him she is being honest, to which an angry Lear says: “Let it be so. Thy truth then be thy dower (inheritance).” He then disowns her.

The Earl of Kent defends Cordelia, telling Lear:

“Think’st thou that duty shall have dread to speak,

“When power to flattery bows? To plainness honour’s bound,

“When majesty stoops to folly. Reverse thy doom;

“And, in thy best consideration, cheque

“This hideous rashness.”

Lear banishes him for speaking up.

Basically, Kent says it is his duty as a loyal subject to speak up when a king makes a mistake or acts wrongfully, as in this case where he is taken in by flatterers.

I wish we had more people near the top who are like the Earl of Kent in Malaysia.

Anwar and others in positions of authority would do well to have someone like the Earl of Kent by their side, for he is not only honest and blunt, he is also extremely loyal to Lear; and capable too.

In Malaysia, we have politicians and supporters who are very loyal to their leaders. What we need more of are those who are not only loyal but who are not blind to their leader’s faults or who are brave enough to question their decisions if necessary.

And leaders should not, like Lear, banish those who speak honestly and point out their faults or criticise their actions and policies. Leaders should not cow them into silence with the threat of laws such as the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma), Prevention of Terrorism Act and the Sedition Act.

There’s also something that our leaders and those in positions of authority can learn from the play King Henry V.

As the English and French prepare to battle, King Henry goes out in disguise to listen to what his soldiers are saying and feeling. That helps him to better understand what needs to be done.

Later, he addresses his men as king and because he has learned about his men’s feelings, he is able to rouse them to believe in themselves and the cause and do battle as equals. The outnumbered English forces ultimately triumph.

Political leaders should listen to the public so that they are not only aware of their fears and desires but also what they think of the direction or policies being proposed. Then, the leaders can modify these so that everyone – or most people – will be on the same page in pursuing any national goal.

This need to seek the views of others is also found in the play Hamlet: “Give every man thy ear but few thy voice.” This sagely advice is from Polonius to his son Laertes, but politicians and others can take it as advice to them from Shakespeare.

In today’s parlance, we can call it public feedback. And this feedback should be obtained long before a policy or programme is implemented, not after it has been implemented or decided.

And as Henry V reflects in the play, those in positions of authority must understand that the power they have is to serve the people, not luxuriate in it. - FMT

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.