Open AccessQueen Vashti: A Contemporary Model for Christian Morality in Africa
Author(s) -
Daniel Nii Aboagye Aryeh,
George Sungadar Moses Wee
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of religious and theological studies/e-journal of religious and theological studies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2821-8957
pISSN - 2458-7338
DOI - 10.38159/erats.2021722
Subject(s) - morality , queen (butterfly) , dignity , christian ethics , criticism , narrative , sociology , environmental ethics , law , philosophy , religious studies , epistemology , political science , literature , art , hymenoptera , botany , biology
In this paper, King Artaxerxes’ action against Queen Vashti (Esther 1:1-2:1-18) is examined, and moral and ethical lessons for contemporary Christian morality are drawn. One can describe the decision of the King as contemptible, despicable, barbaric, and a violation of Queen Vashti’s self-value and dignity. A further challenge can be thrown to the popular notion, which seems to suggest that Queen Vashti was disobedient, arrogant, and not submissive. Contrary to the traditional popular derogatory assessment of Queen Vashti’s rejection of the King’s demand, it is argued that she is a contemporary model for Christian Morality. Rhetorical criticism and historical narrative criticism were used for the study. An analysis of the moral and ethical factors that underpinned Queen Vashti’s rejection of the King’s demand and found that she demonstrated high moral and ethical values worth emulating was conducted in the study. It is, therefore, recommended that Christian women emulate Queen Vashti and maintain high moral and ethical values in society. Keywords: King Artaxerxes, Esther, Vashti, Gender.