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Thursday 21 August 2008

Letters

Letters

Readers respond to recent articles in The Spectator

Alexander Chancellor
Towcester, Northamptonshire

Larry’s Freudian kiss

Sir: Lloyd Evans is incorrect in stating that Olivier played Othello twice (Arts, 1 December). In the 1938 production at the Old Vic, Olivier played Iago and Ralph Richardson played Othello. Olivier and the director, Tyrone Guthrie, were influenced by a Freudian interpretation that identified Iago as being subconsciously in love with the Moor. They kept this interpretation from Richardson, knowing that he would be uncomfortable with it, until one day in rehearsal Olivier planted a kiss full on the lips of his startled friend. Richardson did not walk out: he merely patted Olivier on the head and muttered, ‘There, there now, dear fellow!’

When Olivier eventually got to play Othello at the National Theatre in 1964, the role of Iago was given to the no-nonsense Lancastrian actor, Frank Finlay, and there was no suggestion of Freud!

Peter Morris
Hove, East Sussex

Despair, but also hope

Sir: Paul Johnson need not be so terrified by what he finds written in Matthew xxvii 46 (And another thing, 1 December). Jesus’ reported last words on the cross are quoted from Psalm 22. Yes, these words do reflect despair, but the reader will note that, as the Psalmist continues, there is a sense of hope and redemption. As a scholar of the Hebrew Bible, it is not improbable that Jesus was merely quoting a text appropriate to his situation, though presumably was overcome before being able to quote more (see E.P. Sanders, The Historical Figure of Jesus). An alternative view would be that Matthew’s gospel is littered with references to the Hebrew Bible, the author wishing as he did to present Jesus as the fulfilment of its prophecies relating to ‘The Messiah’, and that this is simply the author placing words in his subject’s mouth. A.N. Wilson’s excellent biography of Jesus (1993) is also worth consulting for a grounded assessment of the life and motivations of the ‘Jesus of history’ (rather than the ‘Christ of faith’).

Michael Stone
Blandford Forum, Dorset

Money mad

Sir: What a funny and insightful piece by Andrey Slivka on the effects of mass consumption on Ukraine (‘Money culture is ruining Kiev’, 1 December) Perhaps now he could be persuaded to write about how money worship is ruining Britain and America as well.

Sidney Graham
Newcastle-under-Lyme

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