Which Shakespearean Character Best Represents Donald Trump?
Comparing the presidency of Donald Trump with the characters from Shakespeare's plays, one cannot help but draw parallels. From the youthful folly of King Lear to the buffoonishness of Nick Bottom, and the brutish Caliban, which Shakespearean character best captures the essence ofDonaldTrump's persona? This article delves into the characteristics of these characters and how they mirror Trump's presidency.
King Lear
While many might argue that King Lear, with his delusional trust and eventual recognition of his schemes, could be a fitting representation, we will have to wait and see how the final act plays out. Will Donald Trump seek redemption akin to King Lear, or will his story end tragically?
Nick Bottom from A Midsummer Night's Dream
I would opt for Nicholas Bottom, the overconfident weaver chosen to play Pyramus, from A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Nick Bottom, full of self-assurance and often making a fool of himself, reflects Trump's brash and often ill-informed public statements:
“Yet my chief humor is for a tyrant. I could play Ercles rarely or a part to tear a cat in to make all split.”
These words showcase Bottom's lack of subtlety and penchant for the melodramatic. Trump's declaration to build a wall, expressed in a similar vein of braggadocio, might be seen as a modern-day reimagining of Bottom's proposal:
“Some man or other must present Wall and let him have some plaster or some loam or some roughcast about him to signify wall.”
This mock proposal, while absurd, demonstrates a certain level of ingenuity. In these instances, Trump, like Bottom, seems to lack the nuanced and sophisticated approach required for staging a successful presidency.
Caliban from The Tempest
Prospero's line to Caliban suggests an abusive yet paternal figure who has tried to reform the brute but ultimately failed:
Thou most lying slaven
Whom stripes may not move not kindness! I have used the
Enfilth as thou art with human care and lodged thee
In my own cell till thou didst seek to violat the
Honour of my child.
Shakespeare's Caliban, with his brutish behavior, consistent abuse of language, and predatory behavior towards women, could also be an apt representation of Trump:
Thou didst prevent me I had peopled else this
Isle with cannibals.
...
Abhorred slaven
Which any print of goodness wilt not taken,
Being capable of all ill!
The scene's tone matches the chaotic and often abusive nature of Trump's administration, where he has been accused of various forms of misconduct, including workplace-related issues and interpersonal conflicts.
The Cabinet as a Tempest Crew
Further, the actors who played alongside Bottom in the play, like Stepheano and Trinculo, could symbolize parts of Trump's cabinet. Their roles represent the lunacy and disregard for good manners that has marked some of Trump’s administration decisions:
“And of course, Bottom has no idea that his head has been transformed into that of an ass nor does the beautiful fairy queen until after the enchantment has been removed.”
Similarly, Trump has surrounded himself with individuals who initially won him over with empty promises and grandiose ideas, much like the material that Bottom fancied for his role as a wall. These individuals now appear as part of his administration’s chaotic and sometimes absurd landscape.
In conclusion, while Shakespeare’s characters each possess unique traits, Nick Bottom and Caliban serve as powerful symbols for Donald Trump’s presidency. Their buffoonery and brutish nature reflect the unpredictability and often problematic governance of the 45th president of the United States.