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Anger, an important theme in Megillat Esther, comes up in many contexts and multiple characters’ developments, teaching important lessons about the dangers of uncontrolled rage and impulsive actions.
During Achashverosh’s party, he invited and commanded Vashti to come from her party to his. When Vashti refused, the Megillah records: “VaYiktzof HaMelech Me’od VaChamato Ba’arah Bo,” “The king was very angry, and his rage burned within him” (Esther 1:12). Instead of thinking rationally and considering how to respond, Achashverosh let his rage control his actions and either banished or killed Vashti. But when his anger subsided, he remembered what he did to Vashti, and as Rashi points out, he became sad. He regretted his decision, so he searched for a new queen.
Shortly after this episode, the Megillah records the story of Bigtan and Teresh and their execution. The Megillah describes that “Katzaf Bigtan V’Teresh”, “Bigtan and Teresh became angry” (2:21). They wanted to execute Achashverosh and were hanged as a result. Their anger led to their downfall.
Additionally, when Haman was promoted and everyone started bowing to him, Mordechai refused. Therefore, “VayiMalei Haman Cheimah”, “Haman was filled with rage” (3:5). This rage prompted Haman to not only want to kill Mordechai, but to kill the entire Jewish people! He wanted to act completely irrationally as a result of his rage. He was blinded by his emotions and, instead of killing the Jews, ended up being killed. Just like Bigtan and Teresh, his anger led to his downfall.
Clearly, anger is a terrible and destructive Middah. It leads to Achashverosh’s sadness and regret, and Bigtan, Teresh, and Hamans’ deaths. Chazal and the Rishonim picked up on this, too. The Gemara Pesachim 66b records that Reish Lakish said that if someone becomes angry, if he is smart, his wisdom departs him, and if he is a Navi, his Nevuah will leave him. Additionally, the Rambam in Hilchot De’ot writes that a person should be “Beinonit”, meaning in the middle, instead of extreme, in his traits. But anger is an exception to that rule, as one should completely distance himself from it. The severe consequences of anger are displayed by the people in Megillat Esther and what happens to them.
However, there is a clear distinction between the results of Haman’s anger and Achashverosh’s anger. Haman is hanged as a result of his anger, but Achashverosh is not. He becomes sad and regretful, but only temporarily. Why was the outcome of Haman’s fury so much worse than Achashverosh’s? Analyzing their character developments, an answer to this question becomes evident. Later in the story, when Haman is walking out from Esther’s meal for him and Achashverosh, he sees Mordechai, but Mordechai does not stand up or acknowledge him, so “VayiMalei Haman Al Mordechai Cheimah”, “Haman became full of anger regarding Mordechai” (5:9). Haman then went and built the gallows to hang Mordechai on, but he ended up being hanged on it instead. Haman did not learn his lesson. He became angry multiple times, so his anger led to catastrophic results for him. However, Achashverosh did not repeat his mistake. When Esther revealed Haman’s scheme, it says: “V’HaMelech Kam B’Chamato MiMishteh HaYayin El Ginat HaBitan”, “And the king got up from the meal, in his anger, and went to the garden of the palace” (7:7). Achashverosh did not act rashly, like he did with Vashti. He went to calm down so he could make a wise decision. As a result of taking the lesson to heart, Achashverosh’s anger did not lead to his death, like Haman’s did.
A very crucial lesson emerges from this, which can be applied to all of our lives. Anger is a very dangerous emotion, so we must work tirelessly to keep it in check. We must heed the Rambam’s warning about distancing ourselves greatly from anger. Additionally, Achashverosh demonstrates the power of self-introspection. He changed his ways, which saved him from catastrophe. As the Gemara (Berachot 5a) says: “If a person sees that punishment is coming to him, he should examine his actions”. May we all be Zocheh to learn our lesson from Megillat Esther, be triumphant over our Yetzer HaRah, and keep our anger in check.