History YMMV / BookOfEsther

* CompleteMonster: [[ManipulativeBastard Haman the Agagite]], one of the archetypal [[PoliticallyIncorrectVillain antisemites]] in Jewish folklore, is a [[EvilChancellor vizier]] under Emperor Ahasuerus (Xerxes) whose ambition and ego know no bounds. Haman is introduced forcing citizens to [[KneelBeforeZod bow to him]]; when a fellow advisor, Mordecai the Judean, refuses to bow to him--possibly on account of Haman embroidering a graven image into his clothing--Haman plots a [[FinalSolution genocide]] against Persian Jewry as a whole, manipulating the emperor into giving him his signet so that he may write it into law. When Mordecai still refuses to bow to him, Haman builds a gallows on which he intends to hang the latter.

* HarsherInHindsight: The idea of Haman, an egotistical man with a chip on his shoulder wanting to wipe out the Jews is a bit harder to stomach when you read about [[UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler a certain 20th-century figure]].

* CompleteMonster: [[ManipulativeBastard Haman the Agagite]], one of the archetypal [[PoliticallyIncorrectVillain anti-Semites]] in Jewish folklore, is a [[EvilChancellor vizier]] under Emperor Ahasuerus (Xerxes) whose ambition and ego know no bounds. Haman is introduced forcing citizens to [[KneelBeforeZod bow to him]]; when a fellow advisor, Mordecai the Judean, refuses to bow to him--possibly on account of Haman embroidering a graven image into his clothing--Haman plots a [[FinalSolution genocide]] against Persian Jewry as a whole, manipulating the emperor into giving him his signet so that he may write it into law. When Mordecai still refuses to bow to him, Haman builds a gallows on which he intends to hang the latter.

* AlternativeCharacterInterpretation: One Bible study published online suggests that the book doesn't mention God because Esther and Mordecai are examples of non-religious Jewish people who save the day doing morally questionable acts. (Examples given include the protagonists not relying on God but trickery and the Jewish people using the plot against them as an excuse to murder their enemies and seize their property and then having a really big drunken party to celebrate it)

** It is also frequently thought that hamantaschen (a pastry typically baked by Ashkenazi Jews for Purim celebrations) is supposed to represent Haman’s severed ears, not helped by the fact that some similar pastries in Sephardic cuisine have names that literally translate to “Haman’s ears”. Not only is nothing stated to happen to Haman’s ears in the story, but this could also be considered blood libel. In reality, “hamantaschen” translates to "Haman's ''pockets''." They were originally meant to be filled with poppy seeds, and were originally called "mohntaschen" (“poppy seed-filled pockets”), which was later changed to "hamantaschen" as a play on words.

** It is also frequently thought that hamantaschen (a pastry typically baked for Purim celebrations) is supposed to represent Haman’s severed ears, not helped by the word literally translating to “Haman’s ears”. Not only is nothing stated to happen to Haman’s ears in the story, but this could also be considered blood libel. In reality, “hamantaschen”, originally meant to be filled with poppy seeds, better translates to “poppy seed-filled pockets”.

* FairForItsDay: While the story isn't particularly progressive view of woman compared to the modern day, the main protagonist is a woman who uses her charm and guiles to protect her people from destruction.

* AlternateCharacterInterpretation: One Bible study published online suggests that the book doesn't mention God because Esther and Mordecai are examples of non-religious Jewish people who save the day doing morally questionable acts. (Examples given include the protagonists not relying on God but trickery and the Jewish people using the plot against them as an excuse to murder their enemies and seize their property and then having a really big drunken party to celebrate it)

** It is also frequently thought that hamantaschen (a pastry typically baked for Purim celebrations) is supposed to represent Haman’s severed ears, not helped by the word translating to “Haman’s ears”. Not only is nothing stated to happen to Haman’s ears in the story, but this could also be considered blood libel. In reality, “hamantaschen”, originally meant to be filled with poppy seeds, better translates to “poppy seed-filled pockets”.