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EMERGENCY POD: Biden and Shakespeare

Jul 12, 2024
Join Eliot Cohen, author of "The Hollow Crown," along with dramaturgs Drew Lichtenberg and Kate Pitt, and actor Phil Schneider for an insightful discussion on Shakespeare's relevance to modern politics. They explore themes from plays like 'King Lear' and 'Macbeth,' highlighting the struggles of aging leaders and the complexities of power. The conversation links Shakespearean characters to current political figures, illustrating the enduring lessons on ambition, identity, and legacy. Schneider even performs excerpts, bringing these themes to life!
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INSIGHT

Biden's Lear-like Tragedy

  • Biden's erratic behavior, like King Lear, is rooted in his inherent traits, magnified by age.
  • Shakespeare's theme of self-knowledge questions if powerful figures truly know themselves.
INSIGHT

America's Arduous Path

  • Biden's situation mirrors Lear's journey towards self-knowledge, posing the question of America's path.
  • A less tragic ending involves Biden leaving the political stage, though not on his own terms.
ANECDOTE

Biden's Broken Promise

  • Biden's 2020 campaign promise of being a transitional candidate has not come to pass.
  • The allure of power, a classic Shakespearean trope, is evident in Biden's change of heart.
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