William Shakespeare’s play “King Henry IV, Part 2” is the penultimate work in a four-part series that details the political education and maturation of Prince Hal, the future King Henry V. In this play, the roguish and charming robber knight Sir John Falstaff, to whom Prince Hal serves as a squire and companion, gives a famous soliloquy on the values of alcohol consumption with the churlish yet thoughtful observances that wine can increase one’s sense of courage, make the mind witty and humorous, strengthen fraternity, promote fecundity, and excite passion in marriage. Falstaff concludes his silly speech with a thunderous proclamation:
“If I had a thousand sons, the first humane principle I would teach them should be to forswear thin potations, and addict themselves to sack.”
Falstaff’s status as a drunkard, a liar, and a thief make him a curious figure in Prince Hal’s ascension to power, but his importance to the future success of his student is quite clear. Prince Hal’s brilliance as a political and military tactician resides in his ability to learn the manners, brogue, concerns, and jokes of the common people by living, eating, and—most importantly—drinking with them. As a prince and later a king, he is well aware of the importance that joy and celebration have to the health of a political community, as well as alcohol’s role in this endeavor.
Shakespeare’s cheeky argument for the role of alcohol in promoting social harmony, though delivered comedically and placed in the mouth of a disreputable figure, is not easily dismissed. Indeed, Shakespeare’s affection for alcohol is likely co-extensive with his religious views, which many scholars maintain was almost certainly Catholic. From this vantage point, his temperament comes as no surprise. To wit, the affection that Shakespeare demonstrates for alcohol finds strong grounding in both the Old and New Testaments.
For example, wine is one of the sacrifices Yahweh demands of the Israelites in Leviticus 23:13, which states:
“With [the burnt offering] you must present a grain offering consisting of four quarts of choice flour moistened with olive oil. It will be a special gift, a pleasing aroma to the Lord. You must also offer one quart of wine as a liquid offering.”
Moreover, the psalmist goes so far as to describe wine as a gift of God that “makes the hearts of men glad.” In point of fact, wine’s ability to make people happy is consistently emphasized in the Bible as a facet of the Christian value of celebration, festivity, and happiness. This neglected area of theology, that of the relationship between wine and joy, is an ancient one, with further examples including Deuteronomy 14:26, wherein Moses enjoins the Israelites to spend their money on something that will make them happy, and observes that oxen, sheep, wine, or strong drink may suit this purpose. What is non-negotiable in that story is that they “feast” and “celebrate.”
The emphasis on wine’s use for celebration continues in the New Testament, when Jesus performs his first miracle during the wedding at Cana by turning water into wine to ensure its consumption and maintain a joyous atmosphere. Moreover, the importance of wine in the ancient world extends beyond the Bible, and was even key to governmental administration for the Germanic tribes in Europe and the Persian court of the Achaemenid Empire.
At this point in my inquiry, many readers might find themselves somewhat intrigued but unsatisfied with the purpose of my writing. In an age of immense political turmoil, the increasing dominance of technology, and a falling birth rate, they might say, “What can alcohol do?”
Indeed, for many Americans and even many Catholics, suspicion of alcohol, revelry, and many other related activities is taken as a given. Indeed, the bias of our legal system is one that often fixates on the dangers of individual liberty, while often paying less attention to the dangers of sterility and austerity.
To this skepticism, I submit that as we seek for new answers and new technology to solve troubling trends, our situation might improve if we were to reflect on ancient practices that are often studied as an afterthought. Chief among these would be the Bible’s emphasis on celebration and the gift of wine, which God granted to us in order to strengthen communal ties.
Consequently, as we pursue happiness in the face of increasing despair and stagnation in our world, it may be helpful to observe King Solomon’s words in Ecclesiastes: “Go ahead. Eat your food with joy, and drink your wine with a happy heart, for God approves of this.”
Alexander Walton is an honors graduate of Morehouse College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy. He is currently a Master of Arts candidate at Yale Divinity School and the Yale Institute of Sacred Music.
