My Own Shakespeare
Michael Portillo
May 21, 2012
Broadcaster Michael Portillo discusses a speech from Troilus and Cressida that has inspired him. The speech explores themes of time and celebrity, discussing how time can diminish great deeds and the transient nature of fame. It emphasizes the need to stay relevant and constantly strive for greatness.
02:44
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Quick takeaways
- The need to continuously repeat great actions in order to gain attention and stay relevant is highlighted through the imagery of a party where the host only pays attention to newcomers, disregarding those who are leaving.
- The play Troilus and Cressida explores politics, government, and war, providing insight into the complexities of motivating individuals over a prolonged period of time in the context of politics and government, while also delving into human nature.
Deep dives
The fleeting nature of fame and the importance of staying relevant
The podcast discusses how time, like a fashionable host, quickly forgets the achievements of the past and instead focuses on the present. The speaker emphasizes the need to continuously repeat great actions in order to gain attention and stay relevant. This theme is explored through the imagery of a party, where the host only pays attention to the newcomers, disregarding those who are leaving. It is highlighted that even minor acts in the present are more likely to captivate people's interest than significant historical actions. The message conveyed is that virtue, beauty, wit, and other qualities are subject to the envious passage of time.
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