Shakespeare on History of Man extended to Art

Facade Abbey of Vezzolano, Italy connected to a quote There is a history in all men's lives, Figuring the nature of the times deceased; The which observed, a man may prophesy, With a near aim, of the main chance of things As yet not come to life“There is a history in all men’s lives,
Figuring the nature of the times deceased;
The which observed, a man may prophesy,
With a near aim, of the main chance of things
As yet not come to life, which in their seeds
And weak beginnings lie intreasured.
Such things become the hatch and brood of time”

(King Henry IV, part 2, act 3, sc. 1)

There is a history in all men’s lives as well as in their works and, in particular, works of art.

Case in point is the Medieval Abbey of Vezzolano (Italy) and a particular detail of which I will tell you later in this article. Continue reading

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Shakespeare, Health Care and the Limits of Medicine

Whom worse than a physician Would this report become? But I consider, By medicine life may be prolong’d, yet death Will seize the doctor too.Whom worse than a physician
Would this report become? But I consider,
By medicine life may be prolong’d, yet death
Will seize the doctor too.

Cymbeline, act 5, sc. 5

For ordinary citizens it is difficult to understand the issues surrounding the so-called Obamacare plan, legislation or reform, however we may want to call it.

To date its most visible effect has been the partial shutdown of government. It is a  measure that (probably) leaves most people baffled and maybe even more baffled if the event had not occurred before. Continue reading

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Shakespeare & Healthful Environments

San Pietro a Valle, Umbria, connected to a quote from macbeth“This castle hath a pleasant seat; the air
Nimbly and sweetly recommends itself
Unto our gentle senses.”

(Macbeth act 1, sc. 6)

Two weeks without an entry… Thanks to the “Your Daily Shakespeare” site followers who emailed me questioning the unusually long hiatus.

But….”There is occasions and causes why and wherefore in all things”, as Fluellen explains to Gower on the eve of the Battle of Agincourt in King Henry V. Continue reading

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Shakespeare and Lies that Stretch to the Crack of Doom

Take but degree away, untune that string, And, hark, what discord follows! each thing meets In mere oppugnancy: the bounded waters Should lift their bosoms higher than the shores And make a sop of all this solid globe: Strength should be lord of imbecility, And the rude son should strike his father deadTake but degree away, untune that string,
And, hark, what discord follows! each thing meets
In mere oppugnancy: the bounded waters
Should lift their bosoms higher than the shores
And make a sop of all this solid globe:
Strength should be lord of imbecility,
And the rude son should strike his father dead:
Force should be right; or rather, right and wrong,
Between whose endless jar justice resides,
Should lose their names, and so should justice too.

(Troilus and Cressida, act 1, sc. 3)

Comes a point when even thinking of expressing thoughts about the latest, or the penultimate or any previous lie or charade of the US apparatchik triggers nausea. Even within the narrow historical range of two or three administrations the lies stretch out to the crack of doom. And it is all déjà vu. Continue reading

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American Football and Absurdity

This is the excellent foppery of the world, that, when we are sick in fortune,--often the surfeit of our own behavior,--we make guilty of our disasters the sun, the moon, and the stars: as if we were villains by necessity; fools by heavenly compulsion; knaves, thieves, and treachers, by spherical predominance;“This is the excellent foppery of the world, that, when we are sick in fortune,–often the surfeit of our own behavior,–we make guilty of our disasters the sun, the moon, and the stars: as if we were villains by necessity; fools by heavenly compulsion; knaves, thieves, and treachers, by spherical predominance; … an admirable evasion of whoremaster man, to lay his goatish disposition to the charge of a star!”

(King Lear, act 1, sc. 2)

I never watched a game of American Football and never intend to, but a piece of news related to this iconic, so-called mass-sport is worthy of comment. I say ‘mass-sport’ because, in an inversion of meaning,  the masses do not practice it. And rather than ‘sport’ it resembles un updated version of the gladiators’ spectacles. Continue reading

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Shakespeare, Money and Politics

Shakespeare quote, … And though authority be a stubborn bear, yet he is oft led by the nose with gold.“… And though authority be a stubborn
bear, yet he is oft led by the nose with gold.”

Winter’s Tale act 4, sc. 3

 

Following is the transcription of a message left on the telephone recorder of a lobbyist by a prominent US Congresswoman.
For our international visitors, the matter is perfectly legal. A summary of the message is, send me money Continue reading

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Shakespeare and Bradley Manning’s Trial. What The Defense Should Have Said

If that be right which Warwick says is right, There is no wrong, but everything is right.“If that be right which Warwick says is right,
There is no wrong, but everything is right.”

(King Henry VI part 3, act 2, sc. 2)

The trial of BC Manning has ended and the Defense Counsel did what he thought his best. I have now received an anonymous hand-written document proposing another line of defense, more in tune – the writer says – with the reality of things. I transcribed it and offer it to the visitors of this site.

“Judge! In legal form I should address you as ‘Your Honor’, but I can’t, and not for Continue reading

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Shakespeare and the Wages of Imperialism

“… this even-handed justice Commends the ingredients of our poison'd chalice To our own lips”“… this even-handed justice
Commends the ingredients of our poison’d chalice
To our own lips

Macbeth, act 1, sc. 7

Who could still have doubts about the infamy of imperialism may examine the recent history of the Middle East.

Some may still remember the war of 1991, Continue reading

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Shakespeare – Wars, Sex, Bikinis and Democracy

Botticelli Primavera and Titian Venus, which is the sexier? In relation to events in Forest Grove and Shakespeare's sonnet 129 … wars and lechery; nothing else holds fashion: a burning devil take them!

(Troilus and Cressida, act 5, sc. 2)

Forest Grove is a suburb of the (unfortunately) sprawling greater Portland (Oregon). And while America has established (imposed) 140 military bases in Italy, Americans have developed a taste for Italian espresso in their home land. Which is just as well, given that, Continue reading

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Shakespeare and the Real Planetary Terror

And strength by limping sway disabled And art made tongue-tied by authority, And folly, doctor-like, controlling skill, And simple truth miscalled simplicity, And captive good attending captain ill…”“And strength by limping sway disabled,
And art made tongue-tied by authority,
And folly, doctor-like, controlling skill,
And simple truth miscalled simplicity,
And captive good attending captain ill…”

(Sonnet 66)

Sonnet 66 reflects the state of mind (and soul) of many – even of those who, within themselves, have not given up the fight for obvious justice, but see around them the ever more coercive arm of a government (or system) that prevents dissent. Not only, but in a psychopathic fear of truth, Continue reading

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