Shelley’s “England in 1819” describes George III as “old, mad, blind, despised and dying.” Some of these descriptors apply to Trump.
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Tag Archives: Donald Trump
Newsom, Swift, and Parody’s Power
Gavin Newsom’s parodies of Donald Trump tweets are reminiscent of Swift’s attack on an 18th century fortuneteller in “The Bickerstaff Papers.”
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged Bickerstaff Papers, Gavin Newsom, Isaac Bickerstaff, Jonathan Swift, Mark Twain, Mysterious Stranger, parody Comments closed
Sade and Trump’s Sadopopulism
Fascism experts are describing Trump’s politics as sadopopulism. The Marquis de Sade provides some insights into the dynamics at play.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged Juliette, MAGA, Marquis de Sade, sadopopulism, Timothy Snyder Comments closed
Trump as Mrs. Elton and Ozymandias
Trump’s vulgar tarting up of the White House brings to mind Mrs. Elton’s lack of class in “Emma.” And then there’s his resemblance to Ozymandias.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged "Ozymandias", Emma, Jane Austen, Percy Bysshe Shelley Comments closed
Is Vance Cassius to Trump’s Caesar?
William Krystol imagines J.D. Vance as Cassius to Trump’s Caesar, secretly stabbing the president in the back.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged Epstein affair, J.D. Vance, Julius Caesar, William Kristol, William Shakespeare Comments closed
Killing the Messenger of Bad News
Trump has shot the messenger in firing the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Plutarch, Euripides and Shakespeare have scenes with this dynamic.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged Antony and Cleopatra, Bacchae, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Erika McEntarfer, Euripides, Henry IV Part 2, shooting the messenger, William Shakespeare Comments closed
Hammett’s Autocratic Fantasy
Hammett’s “Red Harvest” is an autocratic fantasy that has little basis in reality—but it still guides some people who support Trump.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged Dashiell Hammett, GOP, nihilism, Red Harvest, Yojimbo Comments closed