Category Archives: Philosophical, Psychological & Historical Considerations

Bertrand Russell complained about one of his grandmother’s preferred puns, “What is mind? Doesn’s matter. What is matter? Never mind.” And yet we, as a species, continuously attempt to fathom the mystery of the mind, with the help of philosophy, psychology and history. Shakespeare has given us much food for thought on all three, as well as music for those who love the music of words.

Shakespeare, Conspiracy and US Foreign Policy

Posted on October 15, 2012 by jimmie

“…O conspiracy! Sham’st thou to show thy dangerous brow by night, When evils are most free? O, then by day Where wilt thou find a cavern dark enough To mask thy monstrous visage? Seek none, Conspiracy; Hide it in smiles and affability: For if thou have thy native semblance on, Not Erebus itself were dim Read More

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Shakespeare on October and Fall Poetry

Posted on October 14, 2012 by jimmie

”Sir, the year growing ancient, yet on summer’s death, nor on the birth Of trembling winter” (Winter’s Tale act 4, sc. 4) Comments.  Dr. Johnson observed in the “Idler” that “It is commonly observed, that when two Englishmen meet, their first talk is of the weather; they are in haste to tell each other, what Read More

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Shakespeare, Autumn and Climate Change

Posted on October 12, 2012 by jimmie

“… The spring, the summer, The chiding autumn, angry winter, change Their wonted liveries; and the ‘mazed world, By their increase knows not which is which.” (Midsummer Night’s Dream act 2, sc. 1) Comments. After months of seemingly interminable dryness, rain has returned to Portland and to what Alistair Cook called “the damp England of Read More

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Shakespeare and the Military-Industrial Establishment

Posted on October 11, 2012 by jimmie

“…Nay, had I power, I should Pour the sweet milk of concord into hell, Uproar the universal peace, confound All unity on earth.” (Macbeth act 4, sc. 3) Comments.  Eugene Debs (1855 – 1926), an American union leader and one-time member of the Democratic Party wrote, “The feudal barons of the Middle Ages, the economic Read More

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Shakespeare on Greed for Gold and Consequences

Posted on October 10, 2012 by jimmie

“How quickly nature falls into revolt, When gold becomes her object!” (King Henry IV part 2, act 4, sc.4) Comments.  When the future Henry V tried the crown on his head in the room where his ailing father was dying, his intent was misunderstood. He was not anxious to wear the crown before his time Read More

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Shakespeare’s Warning against Marketing Lies

Posted on October 8, 2012 by jimmie

“…Let me have no lying: it becomes none but tradesmen” (Winter’s Tale, act 4, sc. 3) Comments.  Thinking that lying be amenable to curbing is senseless. Even politicians have found a set of Orwellian alternatives to the act of lying. Why condemn as a sin what is actually a virtue? In our post-industrial society of Read More

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Shakespeare on Social Issues and the 1%

Posted on October 7, 2012 by jimmie

“…Let the superfluous and lust-dieted man, That slaves your ordinance, that will not see Because he doth not feel, feel your power quickly; So distribution should undo excess, And each man have enough.” (King Lear, act 4, sc. 1) Comments.  The ordinance or order Gloucester refers to, was established by the Heavens and it implies Read More

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Shakespeare on the Uses of Poetry

Posted on October 6, 2012 by jimmie

“Truly, I would the gods had made thee poetical.” (As You Like It, act 3, sc. 3) Comments.  The Greeks had not one but four Muses of Poetry, Calliope (Epic poetry), Euterpe (Lyric poetry), Thalia Pastoral poetry) and Polyhymnia (Sacred poetry). Suggesting that poetry was more embedded in life and thought that our contemporaries may Read More

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Shakespeare on Age, Birthdays and the Passing of Time

Posted on October 5, 2012 by jimmie

“My glass shall not persuade me I am old As long as youth and thou are of one date.” (Sonnet 22) Comments.  Isn’t it true that we can see youth reflected back, at least virtually or in imagination? The idea could not be said better than with these lines. Tips for Use. Answer to “How Read More

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Shakespeare on the Pretended Difference between Obama and Romney

Posted on October 4, 2012 by jimmie

“…the weight of a hair will turn the scales between their avoirdupois.” (King Henry IV part 2, act 2, sc. 4) Comments.  Some of us cannot even watch a so called presidential debate – there are limits as to being able to endure hypocrisy. But reports and transcripts are available. They show the unbridgeable gulf Read More

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