Satire & Religious Devoution
an analysis of performative acts, both old and newIn cultures and systems of governance with a heavy emphasis on religion, such as Christianity in the medieval period or Theocracy in Iran, insincere acts of religious devotion in pursuit of personal gain are inevitable. Crooked politicians and people in power, as it seems, have been using this rhetoric across the ages. The few that catch on to these deviant, performative displays consist of the greatest writers and poets, who use their works to intertwine religion and hypocrisy.
Gorby and the Rats
Iranian poetry has reflected a search for justice, ethical conduct, and responsible governance. Animals have often been used as examples in this body of works as a means of teaching kings how to be morally righteous rulers. Obeyd-i-Zakimi's Mush-o-Gurbeh, otheriwse known as Gorby and the Rats, turns this idea on its head, using the animals as a form of criticism. The satirical poem, which details the dishonorable conduct of an all-powerful, feline ruler Gorby, reflects the political turmoil of the time. The text explores the detrimental outcomes of a powerful figure feigning interest in ethical conduct, particularly religious devotion. It identifies the differences between truly embodying justice and faking it for purposes of gain, chastising the latter.
The illustrations that accompany the poem greatly enhance the criticism that is derived from the poem. In the picture shown above, we see a quite mischievous-looking Gorby praying in a mosque. He appears to be in simple clothes, contrasting the crown placed upon his head in another drawing, which suggests a sense of humility. However, the look on his face highlights the emptiness and insincerity of his religiosity, demonstrating the complete lack of pure intention within his act of prayer. He is presented in a similar position in the illustration to the left, the difference being his visual dominance over what appears to be a city. This image implies that these feigned acts of devotion allow him to have complete control as a ruler. He sees these actions as a method of personal gain, as the rats give him an invitation to what he perceives as his next meal.
The conflict between predator and prey in the poem is notable. Gorby is the overarching figure of power in the world of cat and rat, not only because of his God-given gifts of sword-like whiskers and dragon-like abilities, but because of the simple idea that he is considered to be a predator. The rats, although they have their own king, are seemingly powerless against the feline. This concept is further exemplified by the meaning of the word "mush," the generic word for mouse in Persian and what is used in the original text. This term could also be used to identify a small creature or be used as a term of endearment (Rahimieh). In the original poem, this would have painted the rodents as delicate creatures, making Gorby's acts of terror all the more immoral. He is presented with the option to simply get along with this inferior creatures, something that a responsible ruler would do, yet doesn't choose to pursue it. In fact, he does the exact opposite: he feeds on the rats after repenting for the very sin. His acts of hypocrisy gives rise to the idea that religion may be used as a powerful tool of persuasion, which ultimately ends with the downfall of those who believe in such a performance.
Reynard the Fox
Reynard, a mischievous and unashamed fox, is a master of rhetoric. His trickery demonstrates the power of language and persuasion, showing just how easily a crowd may be manipulated with a bit of crafty intellect. Certain aspects of the beloved beast epic hints to the idea that religion may also be used as a form of manipulation. This leads to a criticism of the deception and hypocrisy of the medieval clergy, making the story a form of anticlerical satire.
The episodic story follows Reynard as he attempts to talk his way out of appearing in court by appealing to the royal court's greedy instincts. After eliminating all of his obstacles (and by obstacle, I mean each animal), he realizes that he must face trial after his nephew, Grimbart, makes his own attempt to wrangle him in. Before he appears in court, he gains the favor of the badger by feigning repentance in what may be perceived as yet another empty gesture of religiosity: he promises, by God, to never again consume poultry. Based on Grimbart’s response, which is to act as a pseudo-priest and forgive his uncle, the extent of the influence these insincere actions has is once again revealed. Similarly to Gorby, we see this instinctual hunger return: "The fox, all the while, kept a lookout for poultry, for he just couldn't help it. What sticks to the bone can't be cut away" (Simpson, 80). These beastly actions are meant to represent the faults of humans. The unavoidable desire for poultry within a fox can be compared to the unmistakeable temptation of sin that lies within man, especially in figures whose regret and sorrow were never authentic to begin with.
The testimony of one of Reynard's accusers further reveals how feigned religious acts may be used to garner trust, only to end in betrayal. The fox takes on a clergy disguise in order to lure in Cuwaert the hare. While the hare sings "Credo, Credo," which means "I believe," he grabs him by the neck (Simpson, 44). The phrase that he sings gives rise to Cuwaert's gullibility and the false pretenses of which Reynard reels him in. The disguise that Reynard takes on, as well as the role he seems to play, gives rise to the corruption of members of the clergy. It denotes that some priests may use their position for self-serving gain, painting them as liars and trickers. Reynard's antics not only demonstrate his cleverness, but satirize the deceit within the medieval church.
The outcomes of both of these tales demonstrates the harm that can be done by those who feign morality and righteousness. In the case of Reynard the Fox, a devious and murderous crook is set free, granted a means of escape even when all evidence is pointed against him. Although the rats fight back in Gorby and the Rats, their battle is still lost, and Gorby's deceit is left unpunished. These stories not only criticize systems of governance that incorporate rigid religious ideals, but serves as a warning to those who may believe that these powerful figures truly have good intentions. These poets call for further examination of the people in power, hoping to hold them accountable before its too late.
A Modern Gorby/Reynard: Religion in American Politics
While reading Gorby and the Rats and analyzing the impact of performative acts of religious devotion, my mind immediately went to connection this serves to Donald Trump. A common justification I hear behind the support of Trump, as well as one of the foundational building blocks of his teetering campaign, has been the idea that he represents Christian ideals. This ideology mainly stems from his appointment of pro-life political figures in several powerful positions, including Amy Cone Barnett as the newest Supreme Court Justice. However, Trump often contradicts these principles that he is believed to hold through the various unethical decisions he has made throughout his presidency.
In the heat of what continues to be one of the biggest civil rights movements in the country, Trump stood in front of church for a photo op, parading the bible in hand. It can be assumed that this was done in efforts to please his supporters, specifically those of Christian faith, who were adamantly against Black Lives Matter protests. To them, it may seem like a beacon of hope; however, the insincerity of this action is swiftly revealed with just a bit of context. For instance, the front of the church where this photo was taken was cleared out by police using aggressive tactics, which directly contradicts the moral ideals of Christianity that Trump seems to hold dear. Aspects of Trump's policies also reveal both his religious and pro-life hypocrisy, including efforts to increase the use of the death penalty, restrict the transgender community's access to healthcare, as well as the lack of effort to respond to the COVID-19 crisis. If there is anything we can learn from literature, it is that powerful figures who flaunt religious practices may not always be acting upon the principles they preach.
Rahimieh, Nasrin. "A Fable of Deceit" University of California, Irvine. December 2020.
Simpson, James. 2015. Reynard the Fox. Liveright Publishing Corporation.