Can Donald Trump, like Prince Hal in Shakespeare’s “Henry IV” plays, shift from irresponsible merrymaker to great leader? Can he say, “I know thee not old man” to his former companions? Dream on.
Monthly Archives: November 2016
Can Trump Cast Off His Falstaffs?
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged Donald Trump, Henry IV Part I, Henry IV Part II, William Shakespeare Comments closed
All Must Love the Human Form
In “The Divine Image,” Blake gives us a poem for our time, a call to pray for mercy, pity, peace, and love and to recognize the human form in diversity. In “The Human Abstract” he adds that prayer is not enough. It must be accompanied by human justice.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged "Divine Image", "Human Abstract", Abortion, analysis, Christian Right, classism, homophobia, Islamophobia, Jeff Sessions, Michael Flynn, politics, racism, Steve Bannon, William Blake Comments closed
How Trump’s White Appeal Degrades
In his novel “Snow,” Turkish Nobel laureate Orhan Pamuk captures what it is like for Turks to see themselves through the eyes of Germans. In Trump’s election, my students of color saw themselves through the eyes of white America and didn’t like what they saw.
Toni Morrison: White Panic Led to Trump
As Toni Morrison sees it, William Faulkner’s observations about white panic go a long way toward explaining Trump’s victory.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged 2016 presidential election, Absolom Absolom, Donald Trump, Go Tell a Watchman, Harper Lee, racism, To Kill a Mockingbird, Toni Morrison, white privilege, William Faulkner Comments closed
HRC & McKinley’s Strong Woman Fantasy
Robin McKinley’s “Chalice” is a novel about a woman with strong powers who scares men away. It’s a story that may explain the 2016 election.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged 2016 presidential election, Chalice, Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, Robin McKinley Comments closed
What Would Beowulf Do?
Beowulf offers us guidance for fighting back against Trumpism. Here’s a step-by-step account of the three monsters that will be facing liberals and what they must do.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged 2016 presidential election, Beowulf, Beowulf poet, Donald Trump Comments closed
Even in Bad Times, Life Goes On
Donald Trump is a disaster but, as Thomas Hardy reminds us, life goes on even during disasters. As bad as Trump is, he’s not comparable to World War I, the subject of Hardy’s poem.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged "In Time of the Breaking of Nations", Donald Trump, Thomas Hardy, war Comments closed
Poetry: Sure Solacer of Human Cares
For those trapped in gloom, Emily Bronte reminds us that the Imagination is there to provide us with solace.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged 2016 presidential election, Depression, Emily Bronte, grieving, Imagination Comments closed
