Richard III by William Shakespeare
Another version of this note and thoughts on other books are available at:
This is an adaptation with Ian McKellen in the title role and listed as one of the executive producers of this classic play.
And the cast was stellar, no less
- Annette Benning as Queen Elizabeth, Jim Broadbent as duke Buckingham, Robert Downey Jr. –lately the highest paid actor in the world- as Lord Rivers- a supporting role, Nigel Hawthorne – magnificent in the lead role of The Madness of King George by Alan Bennett- as Duke of Clarence, Kristin Scott Thomas as Lady Anne and the champion of longevity Maggie Smith, nominated at the age of eighty two for her roles in Downton Abbey and The Lady in the Van by the same Alan Bennett
So the premises of this spectacular and modern version were fantastic…
As Donald Trump likes to repeat: fantastic, beautiful, great.
Being so modern, this version has made me think of:
- Trump and Richard III
And I think they have so much in common.
Yes, The Donald has not killed anyone, except for a good number of small businesses that worked at his towers and real estate properties and that he has refused to pay, which in the case of small players meant death.
But the two leaders share a pathetic and pathological love of their own persona
And the list of similarities goes on:
- They would do anything to get to the highest position in the land and they finally get it, undeservedly, if you ask me
- Lying and accusing others of the most outrageous, preposterous and yet false acts or associations comes naturally to these individuals
- A psychopath is one who feels nothing, but can perceive and use other’s emotions to his own benefit…both do that
- They say what their audience wants to hear, even when that is a “post-truth”, a word elected as the word of the year by Oxford, for 2016
I was flabbergasted when Richard III has a dialogue with Lady Anne.
She is mourning near the dead body of her husband.
Both the spouse and the father in law have been murdered and Richard III, the ultimate villain is responsible.
And this is just the beginning of a long series of assassinations.
Clarence is killed.
Then young princes, Buckingham and others who have helped the tyrant obtain one of the most coveted thrown in the world at the time.
There is no limit to the ambition of either Richard III or The Donald.
They both see themselves as capable of superhuman endeavors, with Trump declaring a couple of days ago that he would be able to run both America -as yet the greatest democracy in the world- and his business empire.
Indeed, here is another shared element:
- Richard III is a king and the elected leader-alas- of the free world sees himself more as an emperor or a monarch than a leader of a democracy
- His latest press conference showed a discretionary bent, with King Donald refusing to grant CNN the right to ask any question
Meryl Streep has chastised a man who mocked a disabled journalist, laughing at his disability and addressing the lowest instincts in people, especially his flawed supporters, from the height of his powerful position.
The answer came quickly, via tweeter:
- Meryl Streep- nominated for 20 Golden Globes, winner of- I don’t know, 7?- and awarded the Oscar three times, among other outstanding achievements- is an over rated actress according to the man who has a disgusting video on a bus, bragging about what he can do to women…anything
Yes, Richard III has a confirmed violent history
But The elected Clown has spoken about torture, killing the families of suspected or confirmed terrorists.
Let’s hope, Insha’Allah that we can say at the end of the next four years:
“Now is the winter of our discontent
Made glorious summer by this sun of York;
And all the clouds that lour'd upon our house
In the deep bosom of the ocean buried.”
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