Mercutio’s words, “A plague on both your houses,” can be damaging if applied to our current two political parties.
Tag Archives: William Shakespeare
Mercutio’s False Equivalence
Measure for Measure and Our Religious Hypocrites
Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure, about a pious but corrupt judge, captures many of our own political figures that are brandishing their religion.
The Madness of Donald Trump
In which I compare Trump’s madness with that of King Lear.
The Taming of the Electorate
Petruchio’s gaslighting in “Taming of the Shrew” helps us to understand authoritarian tactics in our own age.
Richard III and Epstein’s Crimes
In which I report on an article applying Shakespeare’s “Richard III” to the Epstein fallout.
T.S. Eliot, Tolkien, Gaiman, and ICE
A post associating a T.S. Eliot quotation, a Tolkien passage, and a Gaiman episode from “American Gods” with ICE’s withdrawal from Minnesota.
Minneapolis and Measure for Measure
Trump’s corrupt offer to Minnesota—give up your voting records and we’ll withdraw ICE—brings to mind Angelo’s corrupt offer in “Measure for Measure.”
J.D. Vance as Andrew Aguecheek
Think of J.D. Vance as Sir Andrew Aguecheek from Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.
Church Music, Sweetest of Sweets
In a Malcolm Guite lecture, the Anglican poet and priest draws on Donne and Herbert to imagine us tuning our instruments for entry into the heavenly choir.

