Scene Two: Narration (Based on Esther 1:10-11)
King Xerxes instructed the servant to make sure that Queen Vashti arrives wearing her royal crown. He couldn’t wait to see her and after so many days apart, this was surely going to be the perfect finale to his banquet. However…
It is commonly supposed that the queen was being asked to be immodest, by walking into the banqueting hall naked, with just her crown on her head. Some Bible scholars interpret the command “…tell her to come wearing her crown.” as meaning “…wearing only her crown.”, thus her having to be undressed in front of hundreds of men.
Either way, the king by this time was so intoxicated with many days of wine drinking, that he would not have been thinking straight, so it is highly possible that this was the reason for Vashti’s refusal. So, my dear audience, as there is no clear indication that she was being rebellious, please be a complying crowd and see our Vashti as a virtuous queen – a character in this story, not to be scorned, but pitied.
(Narrator puts a hand on his chest and looks down sadly)
Scene Two: “I Cannot Win” (Based on Esther 1:12)
VASHTI
I really cannot win,
for whatever I choose,
I’m going to be shamed,
and my head, I shall lose.
If I do what he says,
parade naked like I’m told,
like an indecent woman,
all shameless and bold…
When the king sobers up,
and finds out what I’ve done,
he’ll draw out his sword,
and I’ll have to run!
He’ll feel contempt,
knowing others have seen,
what is only for his eyes
and not befitting for a queen.
So here I am trapped,
and I know this is true,
my position is lost,
whatever I do.
His unfair demands
Shoot me like an archer,
I’ll have to prepare
For my sad departure.
