More to His Liking
Posted on 04/27/2009 3:00:55 PM PDT by nickcarraway
President Obama’s conscious emulation of Lincoln is a matter of record, whether it is in announcing his candidacy in Lincoln’s hometown or taking the oath of office on Lincoln’s Bible.
Given Mr. Obama’s particular fondness for Lincolnesque oratory, it’s surprising that he hasn’t adopted one of Lincoln’s favorite habits: quoting Shakespeare.
Lincoln was a lifelong Bardolater and serial Shakespeare-quoter, as Mr. Obama noted in remarks at the recent reopening of Ford’s Theater. Lincoln regarded Shakespeare, whose 445th birthday was last week, as many things: an oracle to be consulted for wisdom; a pastor with whom to share confidences and from whom to seek comfort, a friend. He kept a “Complete Works” close at hand in the White House.
Sitting for one official portrait, for instance, Lincoln fought the tedium with a spontaneous performance of the opening soliloquy from “Richard III,” along with running commentary on how most actors he’d seen play the role had botched it.
He knew much of “Hamlet” by heart, and shared with one correspondent his still unorthodox view that the best speech by the villain Claudius, “the soliloquy commencing, ‘O, my offense is rank’ surpasses that commencing ‘To be or not to be.’ ” It was “Macbeth,” though, that seemed to haunt Lincoln. He quoted from it countless times, and the “Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow” soliloquy gripped his imagination with unusual power.
SNIP
Lincoln wasn’t the only president fascinated by “Macbeth,” although few were as compelled by its bleakness. Ronald Reagan recited the entire “Tomorrow and tomorrow” speech from memory at a school event in Tennessee. He construed the lines as a caution against the morbid mindset Lincoln found in them, telling his young audience, “I hope that none of you ever get that pessimistic or that cynical about life."
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
The whole article talks about many presidents appreciation of Shakespeare, from Thomas Jefferson to GWB.
Obama is sketchily educated. He wouldn’t know Shakespeare from a hole in the ground. He’d prefer Alinsky, or maybe Jeremiah Wright.
He should begin by reading “A Comedy of Errors”. That’s his Administration so far.
who will make the first Othello joke?
ping
No, he’s more Iago, than Othello.
“Now is the summer of our sweet content...”
I'll bet he knows that Shakespeare was white. Jeremiah Wright must have told him so. Which would explain a lot.
Will this do instead.
Obama is but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more: he is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.
Will this do instead.
Obama is but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more: he is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.
bfl
Just put it on the damned teleprompter and he’ll quote anybody you want.
Obama is a lifelong Idolater and series Teleprompter-quoter...
Othello was a brave warrior.
The iTunes App Store has the complete Willie Wigglelance (plays, poems, sonnets) with a search fxn for the iPhone/Touch. FREE
I use it daily.
I did not know that.
The app does not require Internet access.
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