Friedrich Merz’s holiday reading is causing a stir: as the FAZ reports, Merz has resolved to read Christoph Hein’s novel “The Ship of Fools” during his break. The newspaper comments on this choice as a “good choice” with “numerous points of connection” and provides several literary and historical references.
The Ship of Fools metaphor is not new to Merz. Four years ago, he called out to Olaf Scholz: “Stop this red-green-yellow ship of fools!” – back then in his role as opposition leader. Today, according to the FAZ, he himself is the “helmsman of a mutinous crew,” a reference to criticism from his own ranks about communication during the cabinet reshuffle.
From Sebastian Brant to Plato
The FAZ recalls the medieval Ship of Fools by Sebastian Brant from the 15th century, in which a saint named “St. Grobian” appears. The moral satire offers advice for such cases: “No man on earth can please every fool.” Merz should therefore first put his feet up – at his holiday residence on Tegernsee.
As further reading, the FAZ recommends Plato’s “Republic.” In the sixth book, Socrates describes a ship on which captain and sailors wrestle for the helm and drift away helplessly. Plato’s conclusion: a state can only be sensibly governed by a single individual – ideally a philosopher. That, says the FAZ, “can hardly be claimed” of former Blackrock chairman Merz.
From Bosch to the Blockbuster
Alternatively, the FAZ suggests viewing Hieronymus Bosch’s painting “The Ship of Fools” – provided it still hangs in the Louvre after the recent spate of thefts in France. Or a blockbuster: “Pirates of the Caribbean.” The crew maroons their captain Jack Sparrow on an island and squanders the Aztec gold – a nod to the “special fund.” The ship’s name is Black Pearl, and Merz could see it as a warning to his restive party.
Finally, the FAZ quotes Reinhard Mey, who sang in his 1997 song “Narrenschiff”: “Black Pearl, don’t set course for the reef.” At the time, it was aimed at Helmut Kohl – a year later, he was voted out.
Source: www.faz.net
