Hofstra University,
in Hempstead, NY, held a conference on November 7-8 titled “Bond,
James Bond: The World of 007.”
I couldn’t resist.
So, I donned my
tuxedo, slipped the trusty Beretta into my shoulder holster, and
jumped in the Aston Martin DB9 Coupe parked in the driveway. The
engine purred with quiet power as I sped off, hoping that a vodka
martini, shaken not stirred, awaited at my destination.
Oh … excuse me, I was
daydreaming.
The Hofstra event
turned out to be an enjoyable two-day gathering of assorted
academics and Bond experts talking up all things Bond. Topics
included the Bond novels, the actual films and fan movies, Bond
collecting, the gadgets, the science of Bond, and, of course, the
Bond girls.
For our purposes,
Joseph Allegretti, a professor of business and religious studies at
Siena College, presented a paper that compared Ian Fleming’s James
Bond novels to Donald Hamilton’s fiction featuring American spy Matt
Helm.
Allegretti looks at
the initial novels in each series – Fleming’s Casino Royale
and Hamilton’s Death of a Citizen – with his focus on “the
intriguing moral issues raised by the novels.”
Regarding Casino
Royale, Allegretti argues that “what makes the novel so
fascinating as a character study is that Fleming here explores
serious questions of good and evil, conscience and loyalty, that he
will rarely if ever deal with again.” Allegretti looks at three
aspects of what he calls the “moral universe” of each novel – “the
professionalism of the two heroes, their attitude towards killing,
and their struggles (if any) with conscience.”
Bond, according to
Allegretti, finds the deepest meaning of his life in his
professionalism, with “no place for love and emotion at work,”
compartmentalizing “his life into separate spheres.” Meanwhile,
“killing, it seems, is just one part of his job, and by no means the
most important.”
As for any struggle
of conscience, Bond does wrestle with the existence and meaning of
good and evil in Casino Royale. At one point in the novel,
Bond observes: “History is moving pretty quickly these days and the
heroes and villains keep changing parts.” But by the end, Bond takes
the advice of his friend, Mathis, who tells Bond, as Allegretti
writes, “to see evil not abstractly but concretely, personally. He
tells Bond that there are plenty of people who want to destroy ‘your
friends and your country.’ Bond should fight them not out of
adherence to some ideal or principle but ‘in order to protect
yourself and the people you love.’ He concludes: ‘Surround yourself
with human beings, dear James. They are easier to fight for than
principles.’”
Interesting point to
ponder. Protecting one’s loved ones and neighbors very much are the
essence of police work. In addition, one can argue that at the root
of a just war lies, again, protecting loved ones and country from
evil. It also is commonly heard that soldiers on the battlefield are
not concerned about the moral imperative of the war in which they
are engaged, but instead, are focused on getting themselves and
their comrades home alive. That does not mean they disagree or agree
with the reasons of the war. It just means they have a job to do,
and trying to survive.
In the end, one does
not wage war against the principle or abstraction of evil, but
against the harsh reality and manifestation of evil. There are many
evils in this world, but war is waged against particular evils only
when necessary. That is, when evil has to be stopped.
So, when it comes the work of James
Bond, the protection of human beings is the principle.
Raymond J. Keating, also a columnist
with Newsday, is the editor and publisher of the “On the Church &
Society Report.” This column is from the latest issue of the
“On the Church & Society Report,” which also features “Liberty, Law
and Morality,” Anglicans vs. Episcopalians,” “A Traditionalist for
Staying Episcopalian,” “New Voice for Orthodox Christianity,” “Birth
Control Poll,” and “What’s the Point?” To receive a
free four-issue trial of “On the Church & Society Report,” send an e-mail request to
ChurchandSociety@aol.com.
