There is something rotten in Denmark and something rotten in the White House. The parallels between “Hamlet” and Trumpism are considerable.
Tag Archives: William Shakespeare
Something Rotten in the States of America
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged Donald Trump, electoral fraud, Hamlet, Russian investigation Comments closed
A Literary History of the Insult “Cuck”
“Cuck” has become a favorite insult amongst alt-right types. In today’s post I trace literary references to cuckolds going back to Chaucer.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged alt-right, As You Like It, Canterbury Tales, Christopher Marlowe, Country Wife, cuckold jokes, cuckolds, cuckservatives, Doctor Faustus, Donald Trump, Geoffrey Chaucer, Miller's Tale, Othello, William Wycherley Comments closed
Trump as Lear, Howling in the Storm
Donald Trump has a lot in common with King Lear. I suspect, however, that Lear has the happier ending.
Resolving Shakespeare’s Shrew Problem
“The Taming of the Shrew” is one of Shakespeare’s problem plays because it seems to endorse Kate signing on to a male domination fantasy. Modern productions such as the Synetic Theater’s non-verbal version have to make adjustments to satisfy modern audiences.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged marital relationships, Marriage, misogyny, problem plays, Sexism, Taming of the Shrew Comments closed
“Julius Caesar” Is Only Too Relevant
“Julius Caesar” has been showing up in the news recently, and for good reason. New York leads off with the play this summer in “Shakespeare in the Park” (the political parallels are overwhelming) and there is an “Ides of Trump” postcard writing campaign scheduled for March 15.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged Donald Trump, Julius Caesar, Paul Waldman, Russiagate, Shakespeare in the Park, Trumpism Comments closed
Climate Change, Fairies Fighting
Some of the extreme climate events we are currently experiencing are described in “Midsummer Night’s Dream,” where they are the result of fairy infighting
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged Bacchae, climate change, Donald Trump, Euripides, Midsummer Night's Dream, pollution Comments closed
Shakespeare Would Support Transgenders
As Donald Trump rolls back transgender protections, it’s worth going back to Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night,” which honors the sense that many have (not just transgender individuals) that they have the other gender hidden away beneath their exteriors.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged Donald Trump, LGBTQ rights, transgender rights, Twelfth Night Comments closed
The Ugliness of Racial Resentment
“The Merchant of Venice” is a story of resentment and thus is only too relevant in today’s political landscape of inflamed passion. Those who have been victimized–or who feel that they have been victimized–are only too ready to stick it to others when they are in power.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged anti-Semitism, Donald Trump, Merchant of Venice, resentment Comments closed
After Surgery, World Is No Longer a Monet
My brain is still trying to adjust to my new eye following cataract surgery, which has me thinking of various passages about seeing in “Midsummer Night’s Dream.” My having an operation, I also opted for a different path than Claude Monet, at least according to this wonderful Lisa Mueller poem.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged "Monet Refuses the Operation", cataract surgery, eyes, Lisa Mueller, Midsummer Night's Dream Comments closed
