So the literature professors at Chulalongkorn University's faculty of arts have come up with a list of 10 must-read classics for the embattled premier - to help him heal his soul.

The reading list consists of "1984" by George Orwell, "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley, "Dr Faustus" by Christopher Marlowe, "All My Sons", by Arthur Miller, "The Emperor's New Clothes" by Hans Christian Andersen, "Macbeth" by William Shakespeare, "Ozymandias" by Percy Bysshe Shelley, "A Bend in the River" by VS Naipaul, "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens and "Don Quixote" by Miguel de Cervantes.

Faculty of arts assistant professor Carina Chotirawe, who played a key role in working out the book list, said the 10 classic writings represent the metaphors and ironies of what is happening to Thaksin, and the caretaker prime minister should learn from them.

Carina was speaking at a seminar on Arts and the Thaksin System, organised by Chulalongkorn's Faculty of Arts yesterday. Faculty members signed the statement urging Thaksin to resign to put an end to the country's political crisis.

First on the list is "1984", an English novel written in 1948. It reflects Orwell's disapproval of totalitarian regimes and is best known for Big Brother, who tries to control the thoughts and minds of everyone in society by using infallible structure and propaganda tools.

"Our Big Brother [Thaksin] always keeps his eyes on us, as we can see his photo on cut-outs everywhere. But he still gave us an opportunity to watch over him in his reality show [At-Samat trip]," said Carina, who teaches literature.

A dictatorial regime in "Brave New World" also tries to control its people. But in this case the population is controlled through reproductive technology to produce a perfect human race, care-free, healthy and technologically advanced. Yet this extraordinary achievement comes with a big price - loss of family values, cultural diversity, arts, literature, religion and philosophy.

"People in our Brave New World get benefits from U-Athorn project [the handouts] from the time they are born until they die," Carina said.

Thaksin may have many things to learn from "Dr Faustus", a smart man obsessed with himself, blown up in pride, and blinded by his own intellect. In search of super power, Dr Faustus agrees to sell his soul to the devil for power and knowledge. He enjoys exercising power for material gain and this leads him to a tragic end. Although he was warned by many people, he did not give up because of his unlimited ambition, the lecturer said.

"All My Sons" tells about a rich man who is concerned only about making money and not about morality, ethics and damage to his country. This man, Carina said, always blamed technical mistakes he made, and had no concern for morality or ethics. The man was finally asked by his son to treat other children like he treated his own son, who had tried to convince his father to do good deeds.

Shakespeare's "Macbeth" is a masterpiece about greed for power. Macbeth is an ambitious man who betrays everyone in order to rise to power. But Lady Macbeth is even more vicious.

"What's interesting is that his wife lacks morality, more so than him," Carina said.

In "A Bend in the River", Prime Minister Thaksin would learn the story of a Third World tyrant who likes to pay lip service, creates his image as a hero who saves the nation and makes promises to his people.

"A Christmas Carol" is the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, an old man who never cares for the plight of others, and is concerned only for his own interests. However, he changes his mind and begins caring for others after he is warned by others.

"Ozymandias" is a romantic sonnet showing a truth of life, that regardless of how powerful a person may be, such power cannot follow him after he dies.

"The Emperor's New Clothes" shows that sometimes people deny the obvious truth for their own convenience. Although the Emperor is naked, no-one dares to tell him the truth except for an innocent young boy.

Carina also advised Thaksin to read "Don Quixote", although she didn't see any comparison between Thaksin and Miguel de Cervantes' leading character. Nonetheless, the fiction classic could teach Thaksin the beauty of ideology, since Don Quixote fought for what he dreamed of, even though he was scorned by his opponents.

Subhatra Bhumiprabhas

The Nation