Chen Shuei-Bian and the Dragon King


By Andrew Crosthwaite
Artwork by Victoria Morgan

Chen Shui-bian shouted himself hoarse. Nobody cared. Over the road I had just left the theater and a production of Princess Kavalan. In the likelihood that you’re not familiar with the story, the Dragon King of the Eastern Sea wants his daughter to marry her blue-blooded dragon cousin, but she prefers a fun-loving commoner.

Anyway I’m exaggerating slightly, some people cared, but not many. This was the president of Taiwan on a Saturday night in the middle of Chiayi. Not many had turned up to see him and even less had come to listen. There was a stark contrast between the two events on either side of Jong Shing Road that night. A surprise came with the nature of that contrast.
  The dancers put on a good show and were received with rapturous applause. I cared about the characters and didn’t need to speak Mandarin to understand their strange little story. Across the road a tired looking man stood on top of a truck and shouted into the night. His audience milled around waiting for something to happen.

Who are we to blame for this lack of interest in politics? The general public? Should people listen to presidents and politicians simply because of who they are, or is it the politician’s duty to understand and appeal to the public?

In the play, the princess was carefree. She turned her back on her responsibilities and had no interest in helping to rule.

 

She had no worries and her life was perfect until she was told to marry her cousin. After a life of play she was in no position to argue with the king or change her fate. Her choice of lifestyle had put the course of her life firmly out of her hands.

The Dragon King of the Eastern Sea, decked out in his green and blue robes, was out of touch with his daughter. He didn’t understand her and didn’t care to learn. He was the king; he should be listened to and respected. It wasn’t his job to reach out to others.

I don’t want to give away too much of the plot, but you should know that the story is tragic. The princess loses her lover and carefree life, and the king loses his daughter’s love. Both have only themselves to blame for their tragic fates.