http://Some say he’s mad, others that lesser hate him
Do call it valiant fury. But, for certain,
He cannot buckle his distempered cause
Within the belt of rule. Act V Scene 2

It’s true. I’ve read and taught too much Shakespeare. I see parallels to the present where others may only see the events in front of their eyes. But this I know, William Shakespeare understood human nature far better than some of our more esteemed psychologists. Pride. Ambition. Haunted by imaginary phantoms of the mind, Macbeth is but one example of Shakespeare’s keen insight into those who become drunk with power.

Macbeth rose to power by murdering King Duncan as he slept. He struggled briefly with feelings of guilt for killing this kind and just king. However, the three witches’ prediction that he would wear the crown, kindled his unbridled ambition. Dark desires filled his mind and led him to a frenzied decline into miserable dictatorship. His paranoia led to further murders and destruction. When he orders the killing of his friend Banquo and his son, we see the numbing effect of evil deeds to maintain his power, tempered only with the appearance of Banquo’s ghost. When he orders the murder of MacDuff’s wife, children, and servants, we see a tyrant who no longer values human life.

*****

We have entered a new world since January 20th. The America that we knew…a land that adheres to the Rule of Law seems to be under siege by the manic ravings…Tweets…of a madman. Some are claiming that he is a narcissist. True. Empathy seems a distant concept to the machinations of Donald Trump. Historical accuracy is lost on him. No mention of the Holocaust on Holocaust Remembrance Day. No acknowledgment of the CIA wall honoring those who gave their lives for this country. Frederick Douglas spoken of in the present tense…does Donald even know that we once had slaves in this country? Is it his lack of curiosity that leads to this kind of ignorance and insensitivity? He doesn’t read. He watches T.V. for his understanding of the world. Too much Rambo and not enough Thoreau. His all-consuming concerns for ratings and crowd sizes are indictments of his fragile ego.

During my thirty years as a teacher, I preached the gospel of “critical thinking.” I tried to help my students understand the idea of “credible sources” to gain information about issues that face our world. I encouraged them to examine both sides of an issue before coming to a conclusion. Propaganda is born when a lie is repeated often enough that people see it as truth. We need critical thinkers now more than ever. My hope that those caught in the spin-meister’s twisting of facts begin to use clear-eyed thinking and reasoning. Those two things are lost on the man who would be king.

As Macbeth’s world begins to collapse on him and the English army marches toward his castle, he muses over the body of Lady Macbeth who committed suicide:

Out, out, brief candle!
Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing. Act V Scene 5

Last weekend I tried to catch a plane from the Los Angeles airport. Traffic was backed up for miles because protesters came to reject the decree that Muslims from seven countries were not allowed to enter the U.S. I was inconvenienced, yes. But, I made the flight. No one questioned my right to freedom of movement. But at that same airport, people with the correct papers to enter the U.S. were being detained. In some instances expelled.

I urge all who value the ideals of this nation to stand against tyranny. Let this period of “sound and fury” signal to those who believe in our Constitution to stand firm and to march forward into a new era of justice and freedom.

Continue reading ““What does the tyrant?” Donald Trump from William Shakespeare’s Perspective” →