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Thread: Allusions to Shakespeare from Mr. Trump?

  1. #1
    stanley2
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    Allusions to Shakespeare from Mr. Trump?

    Here in the U.S., it seems that while Judge Ginsberg, George Will and Senator Kirk are hoping that Mr. Trump is setting the table, so to speak, for someone else, other reasonable people have endorsed Mr. Trump hoping that some of his stranger comments are, in part, literary allusions. Recently, one of our journalists wrote that Trump may have had in mind a 19th century political party when he used the phrase "know nothing." One might add that the phrase also occurs often in a TV comedy from back in the day. Shakespeare fans may wonder if Trump has in mind both the comical "wall" from MND and the more serious one from R&J: " He ran this way and leapt this orchard wall." Certainly, many educated New Yorkers noted in 2011, during a ceremony marking the 9/11 attacks, that the mayor quoted a memorable line from MAC. Therefore, any mention of women on their knees might also recall passages from that play. Many also might recall a question from songwriter Pete Townshend's "rock opera:" What is happening, in his head?"

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    Mr D Trump's sister is well thought of here. He, in the main ( outside of the loony fringe) is not.

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    Registered User Calidore's Avatar
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    Possibly he's just quoting something he saw somewhere, but without actually understanding. This is known as an optical allusion.
    You must be the change you wish to see in the world. -- Mahatma Gandhi

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    stanley2
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    The passage in MAC that Mr. Trump may have had in mind is Act 4, scene 3, line 110 or so: " Oft'ner upon her knees than on her feet." Therefore, as we find more than one meaning implied in Shakespeare, we may speculate that Mr. Trump sometimes may also have more than one thought going on and thus, perhaps, is "indifferent honest."
    Last edited by stanley2; 07-19-2016 at 05:29 PM. Reason: complete the thought

  5. #5
    stanley2
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    Well, caution is good, but really. Mr.Trump's comments regarding the Mexican American judge were straight DIRTY HARRY, actor Clint Eastwood's seminal role.

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    stanley2
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    Mr. Trump's remarks regarding punching stuff , might recall the British journal PUNCH

  7. #7
    stanley2
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    Hamlet's "antic disposition" also comes to mind. We have seen online notes comparing Trump and Falstaff, Iago and fools or clownish characters. Yet, I think Trump and his staff and friends must have studied Shakespeare sometime.

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