Some Spiritual Thoughts about The Fiddler on the Roof (Part 1)
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Last night we watched The Fiddler on the Roof, again. I think I have watched it four or five times, maybe more. I don’t know. This time, however, I had a thought about the movie that I had never had before, and that thought is that the Fiddler on the Roof represents God. Could that be?
In the movie, Tevya says, “Every one of us is a fiddler on the roof, trying to scratch out a pleasant, simple tune without breaking his neck.” In these words, the fiddler represents the effort to live a good life while dealing with all the challenges life throws at us. On the other hand, the movie also represents Tevya as believing that God throws these challenges specifically at him. Tevya constantly complains to God throughout the movie about how He makes his horse lame, curses him with poverty, gives him five daughters, etc. After receiving bad news on the day of his daughter’s betrothal, he says, “Dear God. Did you have to send me news like that today of all days? I know; I know we are the chosen people. But once in a while, can’t you choose someone else?” Then after the authorities invade and ruin the wedding celebration, Tevya looks up into the sky with arms outstretched, a pained look on his face, wondering why God would allow his daughter’s wedding celebration to be so disrupted.
Tevya has the answer to this question, though he doesn’t like it very much. In one of his prayers, he says to God, “You are very busy now. Wars, revolutions, floods, plagues, all those little things that bring people back to you.” Tevya is one of those people. He is not exactly a figure of high moral integrity. He’s angry, bitter about his life, avaricious, yells at others a lot, argues with his wife, gets drunk, doesn’t keep his agreements, causes trouble between others for amusement, claims to know things he doesn’t know, and is not a very good man of faith. He has many sins just like most people do. On the other hand, he loves his wife and daughters, works hard, takes care of his animals, gets along well with people, obeys the authorities, observes the Sabbath, prays frequently (his only prayer that is answered is for his son-in-law to get a sewing machine), and is very interested in “the good book.” He’s inconsistent and petulant, but he’s likable because he’s identifiable, and like all of us, there are some things that Tevya loves more than God, and he should not (Deuteronomy 6:4-5, Matthew 22:37).
God bless you, and I love you.
Kevin Cauley