For those of you that saw the piece, I'm sure you also thought it absolutely fascinating. For those of you that didn't see it, I'll explain. The Robben Island Bible is not actually a true "Bible," but instead, a copy of Shakespeare's collected works. Sonny Venkatrathnam, a political prisoner at Robben Island in the 1970s, is the owner. Robben Island had a strict ban on non-religious texts being owned by their prisoners, so Sonny covered the outside of the bible with Hindu gods and goddesses and told the guards that the book was called, "The Bible by William Shakespeare."
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| The Robben Island Bible Cover |
Sonny passed the book around to his fellow political prisoners that were involved in the struggle against apartheid and asked them to mark their favorite passages. Some of these other notable individuals were Nelson Mandela and Ahmed Kathrada. The book on display was open to the passage from Julius Caesar marked by Mandela: Cowards die many times before their deathsThe valiant never taste of death but once.Of all the wonders that I have heard,It seems to me most strange that men should fear;Seeing that death, a necessary end,Will come when it will come.The other passages have been captured digitally and were playing in loops on three LCD screens right behind the actual book.I thought this was honestly the coolest thing I had seen in a long time, and, if we're being even more honest, I'm not even a huge fan of Shakespeare (please, don't shoot). Seeing the different passages that each political figure marked, contemplating why may have marked them, realizing how amazing it is that Shakespeare played even a small role--perhaps just positively connecting these figures in an extremely dark time--in such an important political struggle even in our time. I was just blown away.
So when I returned home, got on my computer, and started to look into this amazing book, I was severely disappointed to find this: http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/1229077--african-national-congress-disputes-iconic-status-of-robben-island-bible-displayed-in-british-museum
It made me wonder how many people could possibly feel the same way. The fact that one of the prisoners didn't even recall which passage he marked really made me feel disappointed. I wonder if any of the other prisoners felt the same way about this artifact: dismissive, indifferent, forgetful.It made me wonder how many people could possibly feel the same way. The fact that one of the prisoners didn't even recall which passage he marked really made me feel disappointed. I wonder if any of the other prisoners felt the same way about this artifact: dismissive, indifferent, forgetful.
But after some thought, I did see how this could be frustrating to the actual political figures. It highlights Shakespeare, not the fight against apartheid. Sure, it's fascinating that Shakespeare had a tiny role in the lives of these important figures. But what's really more important? Shakespeare? Or this political conflict? The exhibit has you walking out thinking the more important one is Shakespeare, with the giant quote on the wall about how Shakespeare still influences us today.
Did anyone else think they sort of deadened the issue of apartheid too much? I know the exhibit was for Shakespeare. I know.... I know. Honestly, I loved the Robben Island Bible, and I found it inspiring and moving. But I hadn't considered what it meant to those more closely connected to the political conflict. But I'm curious to see what everyone else thinks.
Side note: I apologize for the formatting problems. It appears my post decided to highlight itself with white and change fonts. Thanks to copying quotations. How unfortunate.
I also found this fascinating. I am always interested to know what literature prisoners and, more importantly, political prisoners are interested in reading. I have heard of many prisoners constantly requesting books, and I think that highlights the power of story on the human condition. We all need stories to get us through the day-to-day. It is something that starts in childhood and never lets go of us. That is why being a writer can actually be an incredibly powerful thing. Shakespeare was that powerful thing to these men during a hard time, and to answer your question, I don't think that it in anyway discredits or downplays the atrocity of the political situation. It is a Shakespeare exhibit, and it is important to see how his work inspires people of all walks of life, times, and generations. It shows moments of light created by literature during very dark times, which I think is something important for us as humans to see.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure that the Robben Island Bible is made more important because it is a collection of Shakespeare's work, but the book itself is definitely important: it is important because it shows to which lengths people will go to acquire freedom, even a small degree of freedom inside a maximum security prison, like being able to read Shakespeare.
ReplyDeleteThe book is also important to show the education gap between Sonny Venkatrathnam and other political prisoners and their jailers, and the blatant act of defiance implied by the Bible (a bible with hindu images on its cover, written by William Shakespeare? Hilarious, but quite easy to be spotted)
I am sure Shakespeare made a difference for Sonny, but as for the other captives (including Mandela, whose chosen quote seems at least too strategically chosen), I don't really know. I would imagine that some of them have never even read Shakespeare.
I think the mere appearance of Shakespeare in Robben Island is a notable act of political resistance. It very well may be that the majority of the prisoners are either ill-equipped or ill-disposed to enjoy Shakespeare in print form, but still. . .
ReplyDeleteWould you have known about the incident without the exhibit? No? Then the complaint seems misguided. Behold: you have been brought to meditate on the condition of political prisoners in an apartheid state by a work of Shakespeare. Everyone can go home happy.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Mitchell. The curators definitely didn't intend to spark a resurgence in the field of Apartheid studies when they assembled pieces for their collection, but they definitely were not oblivious to the consequences of putting such a politically charged document in the final spot of prominent exhibit. It inspired you to do research on the subject and spark up an online dialogue.
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