Volume 4 No 1 - Journal for the Study of Antisemitism

2012] THE SUCCESSFUL ANTISEMITE 307
Simonini is a hater, a liar, and a racist. His profession is forger and
murderer, propagandist and spy. His strongest traits may be his ambition
and desire for money and food. He hates Italians, Germans, Jesuits,
Masons, and of course Jews. The author has gone into competition with
Shakespeare’s Richard III for creating the most unlikable villain in literature.
Simonini is involved in so many diabolical plots it is the rare reader
who will be able keep up with them. He bounces around nineteenth-century
Europe, taking advantage of every opportunity to spread hate, political animosity,
and misinformation. Several characters, such as Dumas and Garibaldi,
are known. Familiar groups such as Jesuits and Masons take on evil
knife-carrying qualities as Simonini takes on tasks, creating roiling conflict
between everyone.
Although Simonini ascribes the principle pecunia non olet (money
does not stink) (Eco 2011, 317) to another character, it fits well as a motto
for Simonini himself. Although money itself does not stink, everything
Simonini does for money morally reeks to high heaven: “I hate women,
from what little I know of them” (Eco 2011, 14). Women join the long line
of groups hated by Simonini. In fact, Simonini hates so many groups one
wonders why he is so successful at focusing on Jews. In one word, the
answer is opportunity.
Why are there antisemities? What makes a successful antisemitic propagandist?
There are no conclusive answers in The Prague Cemetery, but
buried in this equally dense cemetery and book is some wisdom on the
subject.
Eco shows us that the Jews provide the best opportunities to make
money by writing hate literature and passing false stories. Simonini realizes
that “There was an anti Jewish market among revolutionaries, republicans
and socialists” (Eco 2011, 194). It may be that Simonini is like any other
talented and ambitious person without a conscience. His unique and salable
asset is his deep understanding of Jew hatred taught to him by his grandfather.
He matches his skills as a forger and liar with his talent for Jew hating,
and finds success.
The canny and practical side of Jew hatred is demonstrated by
Simonini, who declares:
“I don’t want to destroy the Jews. I might even say that the Jews are my
best allies . . . We therefore need an enemy . . . For the enemy to be
recognized and feared, he has to be in your home or on your doorstep.
Hence the Jews. Divine providence has given them to us, and so, by God,
let us use them, and pray that there is always some Jew to fear and to
hate. We need an enemy to give people hope” (Eco 2011, 341).