Shapiro’s “Shakespeare in a Divided America” shows that the Bard has made an appearance in most of American history’s key moments.
Author Archives: Robin Bates
Shakespeare in a Divided America
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged censorship, Hamlet, James Shapiro, Julius Caesar, MAGA, Merchant of Venice, Othello, Romeo and Juiet, Shakespeare in a Divided America, William Shakespeare Comments closed
Trump and Satan, Both Miserable
Trump is as miserable as Milton’s Satan (and also a character in a Trollope novel). Unfortunately, like Satan, he does all he can to pull others into his well of misery.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged Anthony Trollope, Beowulf, Christopher Marlowe, Doctor Faustus, Donald Trump, John Milton, Paradise Lost, resentment, ressentiment, Small House at Allingham Comments closed
Ignorant Armies Clashing by Night
Arnold’s “Dover Beach” describes our own world but also provides us with a way forward.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged "Dover Beach", "Dover Bitch", Anthony Hecht, Culture and Anarchy, Matthew Arnold, Study in Poetry, Terry Eagleton Comments closed
Verses upon the Burning of a House
A poem for California’s wildfire victims: Anne Bradstreet’s “Verses upon the Burning of Our House, 1666.”
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged "Verses upon the Burning of Our House", Anne Bradstreet, California wildfires, John Gatta Comments closed
The Call To Step into That River
Luke, Milton and Malcolm Guite are all enthralled with the moment when Jesus, at the moment of his baptism, fully realizes that he–and all of us–are God’s belovèd and delight.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged "Baptism of Christ", Epiphany, John Milton, John the Baptist, Malcolm Guite, Paradise Regained Comments closed
Orwell Foresaw the Dangers of AI
In “Prevention of Literature,” Orwell anticipates AI and how authoritarians will attempt to use it–and to ban or rewrite Literature.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged artificial intelligence, authoritarianism, George Orwell, Kazuo Ishiguro, Klara and the Sun, Prevention of Literature Comments closed
Red Wind in California
60 mph wind bursts are fueling the fires burning L.A., bringing to mind Chandler’s noir novella “Red Wind.” For him, the wind is the dark wildness at the core of society.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged California wildfires, climate change, Raymond Chandler, Red Wind Comments closed
MAGA Militias and Nazi Collaborators
Kate Atkinson’s “Transcription” involves a mole infiltrating the ranks of Nazi sympathizers. Pro-Publica recently published an account of such a mole in U.S. rightwing militias.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged anti-Semitism, AP3, Big Sky, Christopher Marlowe, Doctor Faustus, Emily Dickinson, Kate Atkinson, Nazi collaborators, Oath Keepers, Protocols of the Elders of Zion, rightwing militias, Started Early Took My Dog, Transcription, When Will There Be Good News? Comments closed
Going Gently into That Good Night–Or Not
In which I pull on Kenyon, Dylan Thomas, Conrad, Chandler, Lawrence and others in an attempt to penetrate the mysteries of dying.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged "Do Not Go Gentle", "Fern Hill", "In Blackwater Woods", "Let Evening Come", Big Sleep, D. H. Lawrence, death and dyiing, Dylan Thomas, Heart of Darkness, Jane Kenyon, Joseph Conrad, Mary Oliver, Raymond Chandler, Sons and Lovers Comments closed
