Chapters 1 - 8

The Coffee Trader is a novel in which moral, ethical, and emotional choices are often bound up with monetary and financial choices. How do financial dealings shape or define character? Does this novel suggest a relationship between financial dealings and morality?

I don't know that financial dealings shape or define character. It seems that many people have two different characters - the one they use in everyday life and the one that comes out when money is the issue. I don't know how to determine which one is their true character but I often feel that the one they display when money is at stake is their true character.

The characters in this book seem to be morally lax in most aspects of their lives. They think nothing of lying and cheating each other on the Exchange just as they think nothing of cheating on their spouses, only following the religious doctrine that comes easiest for them, etc.

So far, I cannot put this book down. The story is so complex and the text is so descriptive - I almost feel as if I am there witnessing the entire story.

It does seem that these characters, who are very devoted to their religion, look the other way if money is to be had. They act so far in line with the laws of their religion - yet when they can make a profit they find a loop hole.

It's interesting the see that plus c'a change, .... In this book it's money to be made that often causes men to look the other way. But isn't that what's still happening today? Can you say ENRON? I wonder tho if these characters had spent their entire lives being able to live their religion openly if they would have responded to these issues differently. Having to decide in what circumstances I can be more openly Jewish than others probably had as much to do with decisions made as pure financial greed.

As #2 says, there is moral laxness in many aspects of their lives, but how much of that was considered laxness in the culture of that time and place? How much was simply accepted practice of men of certain social levels?

So to answer the OP, I don't think this book posits a relation between morality and financial matters. As 2 and 3 state, they seem to be able to exist side by side, and one put in the background when the other becomes paramount.

It seems to me that the characters are all too human. They will get away with whatever they can but retain a semblance of religious piety to cover their options with God, or more realistically so they don’t get into trouble with the religious hierarchy, who control every aspect of their behaviour.

It must have been a really complex moral dilemma for the pious Jews who wanted to live in accordance with their religious beliefs but who were constrained by the oppressive regime under which they lived. How would I have handled this situation? I honestly don’t know. I would probably have been as deceitful at trying to hide my true religious beliefs as any of them!

Money and its uses is a great test of character. Remember, it is a root of all kinds of evil. Money has a certain inherent life and power of its own, and can be and often is, a corrupting influence. It is one of life’s great tests to be able to correctly handle money and not let it control you. Most of us fail at this, sometimes succeeding and mostly failing. The characters in The Coffee Trader therefore are no better and no worse than any one else in this regard.

What a wonderful rich and complex book this. Immensely enjoyable and satisfying.

- TT

I come down on the side that the book is not suggesting a linkage.

Up to the point we've read so far, I've seen nothing in the financial dealings that doesn't seem at least neutral in terms of both the accepted business practices of the day and the strict tenets of their faith. In fact, the only non-standard dealings I can think go the opposite direction—Alfonso Alferonda gets merchants to pay extra to help the needy, as he puts it, "...a good deed that would win me favor in the eyes of the Holy One..."

The characters seem a bit more amoral on the subject of adultery, though there is the comment that the "the rabbis revoked the commandment against adultery." I'm not sure what to make of that...a joke or something that actually happened?

TT, with regards to your second paragraph, I wonder if the pious Jews really faced a moral dilemma or whether it was just a large amount of hardship. I worked with an Orthodox Jew and he told me that all religious laws were explicitly overridden by what was necessary to preserve life. If I didn't misunderstand him, then it would seem that there was no dilemma...i.e., they weren't faced with a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation...just an inordinate amount of suffering in being unable to live the life their religion called for them. I don't know...I'd like to learn more about this aspect of Judaism.

Years ago, I had to take a business ethics course to complete an accounting degree. At the time, it seemed very boring and not challenging. But, of all classes taken throughout the years, one thing said in this class stuck with me. It really was a very trite, simplistic comment at the time, which has haunted me and made me realize that the statement wasn't all that simplistic afterall.

The prof. said this:
We make our choices according to our values!
We choose A over B because we value A more.
We make choices of friends because of our values
We make choices re. our primarly relationships because of our values
and we make choices about finances according to our values.
Where we spend our money indicates our values

Thus, when reading this wonderful and complicated book, I am reminded of that simple, but true statement.

While the devout religious people pray and process values that are to be strictly enforced, when money is involved, it appears the proclaimed values are placed in the background.

In light of the worldwide financial problems, I find this book to be very interesting. I had no idea that puts and calls and buying on the margin went as far back as that! The attempts to manipulate others perceptions of the commodities to affect price does not seem to tie in with religion. However, there were some mentions about how Jewish people who succeed financially have an obligation to care for those who are poor. (Although the carrying out of it seems to allow some wiggle room.) And it seems like I saw something about Jewish people not being able to declare bankruptcy.
--BJ

I finished this book several days ago (sorry - just HAD to find out what happened!), and I've been reading Malcolm Gladwell's new book, Outliers: The Story of Success. There are some interesting connections. (***SPOILER ALERT*** for that book.)
In his chapter on successful Jewish lawyers, he argues that during the 1950s and 1960s when they were graduating from law school and trying to get jobs, they wouldn't get hired at the most prestigious "white-shoe" firms. Therefore, they started their own firms and did whatever work came their way, including the less savory work (like litigation and hostile company takeovers) that the other more established firms wouldn't touch. Years later when those things became more acceptable and there was more demand for them, they were the firms that companies went to first. So...precisely BECAUSE they were excluded from certain activities because of their Jewish background, they were in a position to be successful later.
I wonder if something similar was happening with Miguel and his counterparts in Amsterdam? It mentions somewhere that the puts/calls/buying on margin/ and other tactics that were not straightforward buying/selling were looked down upon by the more traditional traders. Were they just filling a niche?

>9 callen610:: Interesting.

If you think about the whole thing with the Catholic Church usury laws, it's why many Jews got into the money-lending business...they were barred from many other professions, but were allowed to do this. This made them financially powerful, but also hated since very few people love a creditor.

i am making slow progress here...but it seems to me that , as far as the book goes (and perhaps real life, as well?)....finances influence morality when finances are low .....Miguel considers the Coffee Offer because he is under the wire financially....and his Business Ethics, as far as i make out, were no different than the Norm. Religious tenets aside, the Mercantile Exchange was not a tea party...but a dog-eat-dog arena...the one with the most $$$$ won (or at leas prospered) and those with the least,,,failed. miserably, per the usual...gives some insight into the old adage that there is nothing really New anymore...our current financial woes are nothing new....we just have more ways of knowing about them...more folks putting their own spin on the whys and wherefores....

> 11: I agree with you jdthloue, it looks like when finances are getting low, morals are getting low as well. Maybe not remarkable, because when we are afraid to loose, we become harder....

I always wondered why the Jews were the trading people. Last year I was in Antwerp (Belgium) and walked there through the diamond trading area. And it was kind of surrealistic, seeing the (typical) Jews walking around there and hearing Hewbrew.

>Message 12: boekenwijs

Historically, before/during major Pograms, the Inquisition and the Holocaust, it became illegal for Jews to own land. Therefore, they could not be farmers. They were usually prohibited from other official trades that are commonplace and required a person to own property and large invested goods (blacksmithing, fishing, sheep farming).

By nature of these laws, Jews were required to establish themselves into portable industries, one which conformed to the laws during these periods but still enabled them to make a living.

To further the complications, Jews might have to suddenly flee, therefore, education and learning were considered a necessity over material goods. This is why through the generations, Jews as a culture have become money lenders, diamond brokers (easily portable goods), traders, doctors, dentists, etc. All of these professions allow Jews to flee quickly and yet still retain their profession.

To further this theme, during the Holocaust period, one of the things Hitler did was declare Jewish businesses illegal (kristalnacht) in which Jews lost their businesses and possessions, and also the Jewish money lenders who loaned the government and large non-Jewish business entities monies were also declared illegal, and their debts were cancelled. Overnight, the Jewish families were ruined.

This is why, since so many family members are still living from the Depression and Holocaust period, you may run into Jewish families reinforcing the "portable education theme" to their children or grandchildren to this day.

I think money and morals ARE absolutely tied, but I'm not sure the author has yet revealed how they are tied for our characters in The Coffee Trader. I'm sure there will be more to come on this theme.

It seems, for example, that there is a dichotomy presented between external morality and internal morality with regard to religion, so it will be interesting to see if that plays out on the financial side as well. For example, Miguel seems much more "pious" and "moral" in his motivations for living out his faith for the sake of the faith itself. This is in contrast to Parido, who although he is perceived as a "holy" person as part of the Ma-amad, seems to use his faith and its customs, laws and rituals more for the purpose of his own advantage. I don't think we know enough yet about his financial dealings to know if that is also true with regard to his money.

I look forward to reading on and finding out more...

@ 13, vintage_books, thanks for your great explanation! That makes things clear!

Religion seems to play the role of unused conscience in this book. Miguel wishes to portray himself as a devout Jew following their laws. However, he will sneak around the laws themselves if it will allow him access to a road that leads to a more comfortable life.

When his life was comforable he was willing to be the "good man". He donated to various charities and did as he was supposed to. Once the money was gone and he found himself bankrupt and in debt, his morals quickly changed. I wonder how many of us if placed in similar circumstances would allow our morals to slide as well?

My thoughts were that it really depends on whether they truly believe in God and therefore it being reflected in their actions.

Certainly financial dealings will try a person's fortitude in persisting on acting as one should according to their belief and again this will depend on convicted they are in their beliefs.

From what's I've read so far (chapter 8 by last night, *phew*), I'm not convinced that any of the characters truly believe in Yahweh. It appears that they are enchanted by their ancient tradition (& laws), took comfort in them and therefore choose to fulfill their religious obligations when convenient. And as it shows from their financial dealings, they will do as they will when it comes to 'financial dealings'.

Btw, that brings out the question of with all the laws that the Jews are supposed to keep, how practical is it in the current world? It doesn't seem to be practical at all... Aren't they supposed to keep themselves 'holy' (ie. separate from Gentiles)?

Looking back over the first few chapters again, it seems as if Miguel relishes being a "Secret Jew" because it was the deceitful thing for the time. Miguel seems to like having his little secrets, and what bigger secret than being a Jew at that time.

Miguel seems to enjoy dragging his foot across the line repeatedly when it comes to the religious laws. It seems as if most of the Jews enjoy doing this to some extent. Perhaps it is because the laws were no longer relevant to their situation in life.

babemuffin said:

"I'm not convinced that any of the characters truly believe in Yahweh. It appears that they are enchanted by their ancient tradition (& laws), took comfort in them and therefore choose to fulfill their religious obligations when convenient."

For many of them, do you think that the comfort is in community because they are generally treated as "outcasts" by non Jews, so practicing the religion for some may be a way of getting a feeling of belonging.

I do think Miguel believes in Yahweh because he truly seems to delight in the prayers and rituals and has a desire to learn more. In addition, even when he is rationalizing his behavior when he's about to do something "dubious" he is also considering whether "The Holy One, Blessed Be He" would condone or condemn his action. He also considered if his current plight might not be punishment for wrong doings in the past. I also thinks he values money and the power it gives--including, BTW, the power to be charitable.

Solomon Parido, on the other hand seems to to use his religion and the power it gives him to punish his own enemies. I am very leery of his sudden interest in befriending Miguel. I also wonder at his callousness against those unfortunate Jews that he used as a tool to banish Alonzo Alferanda.

Alonzo Alferanda is the most enigmatic. Since Parido caused his excommunication he no longer belongs -- an outcast on all sides. Yet he does seem to be able to exert power in some way. I'm interested to see what happens between Miguel and Alferanda--is he friend or foe?

It's was interesting the comparison made between trading, especially in futures, with games of chance--gambling.

Did anyone else feel pity for Hannah, raised as a Catholic without ever knowing she was a Jew and then suddenly being told she had to worship like a Jew without getting instruction about how Jews worship! No wonder Anneteje was able to get that power over her. She had no one else to confide in and a husband who should be boiled in oil!

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MusicMom41 said
"Did anyone else feel pity for Hannah, raised as a Catholic without ever knowing she was a Jew and then suddenly being told she had to worship like a Jew without getting instruction about how Jews worship! No wonder Anneteje was able to get that power over her. She had no one else to confide in and a husband who should be boiled in oil!"

Hannah is almost endearing to me. Being thrust into a life she knows nothing about with a husband that seems to almost enjoy her ignorance (I think it's because he himself knows so little). She enjoys when Miguel joins them for dinner because he treats her like a person with a mind. She has developed quite a little crush on him.

>19 MusicMom41:: MM41, Hannah seems the most sympathetic character in the novel so far.

Beyond even being required to worship as a Jew without instruction, one would assume she has a lifetime of prejudices that would kick in. Even among the Dutch, the Jews were not loved.