Broadway Lesson – If I Were a Rich Man
I am stereotypical gay in my love of Broadway musicals. Some Broadway shows not only have great tunes but also have great gay money lessons that you may have never pulled out. In Broadway lessons we will dissect the songs, story line, and characters to find gay money and wealth lessons.
The musical Fiddler on the Roof has a song ” If I Were a Rich Man”. In the song a poor hardworking man Tevye imagines having a fortune and describes how his life would be different. Tevye first recognizes that he is poor and there is no shame in being poor, “Dear God, you made many, many poor people. I realize, of course, that it’s no shame to be poor.” If you are hard up remember being poor is not shameful, many great people were poor, your monetary value is not your humanity value. How other people treat – mistreat – the poor says more about them and their lack of empathy than being poor could ever say about the “poor choices” of the poor.
Tevye then imagines having a small fortune. Like many people who fall into instant wealth, Tevye’s imaginary fortune is spent very quickly on frivolous items which do little than to display his wealth. Items include: A mansion, prime real estate, swanking birds, servants, and staircases “There would be one long staircase just going up, And one even longer coming down, And one more leading nowhere, just for show.” The main purpose of most of the first things Tevye would spend money on would have nothing to do with making him a better more fulfilled person. The imaginary purchases are frivolous and value statues above all else. If Tevye did have a fortune, he would be quickly parted from it before he got what he really wants.
After half the song Tevye finally reaches what he really would like to be more fulfilled in – his spiritual connection, “And I’d discuss the holy books with the learned men, several hours every day. That would be the sweetest thing of all.” The lesson here is the order of fulfilled desires. Tevye if he were a rich man would blow his money on materialistic pursuits before he really thought of what he truly wants. When a large windfall happens it may be best to hold on to the cash and think about how spending it makes your life and society better and you more fulfilled. Hopefully whe you get a windfall you are better with it than Tevye and his imaginary fortune.
What dreams do you have about being rich?
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