With Pete Hegseth’s over-the-top exhibition of macho, I look at the history of literary cuckold jokes, which reveal the anxieties of insecure men.
Tag Archives: Doctor Faustus
The Madness of Donald Trump
In which I compare Trump’s madness with that of King Lear.
Instructions on Caring for One’s Soul
Living at a time when many are putting their souls at risk, here’s a Joseph Fasano poem on how to reconnect with and nurture the soul.
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.
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.
Trumpian Darkness or True Light? Choose
Trump and many of his fans twist themselves in the perpetual torment of their resentment and anger. Henry Vaughan describes their state in “The World.”
A GOP Senator as Doctor Faustus
Mitt Romney has accused Sen. J.D. Vance for selling himself “so cheap.” Think of the “Hillbilly Elegy” author as Faustus.

