"Shakespeare’s words reach beyond their original time to speak about the most fundamental human truths, like how a great country could end up being governed by a sociopath? 1st there are those who trust that everything will continue in a normal way- promises kept, alliances honored and core institutions respected. 2nd there are those who cannot believe he's bad as he seems to be- how awful he is; 3rd there are those who feel frightened or impotent in the face of bullying and the menace of violence; 4th there are those who persuade themselves that they can take advantage of Richard’s rise to power. They see perfectly well how destructive he is, but they are confident that they will stay safely ahead of the tide of evil or manage to seize some profit from it. 5th, there are those who take vicarious pleasure in the release of pent-up aggression, in the open speaking of the unspeakable."
At www.nytimes.com
