Greenblatt examines the circumstances, the psychology, and the downfall of some of Shakespeare’s tyrants, namely Richard III and Macbeth who came into power through murder, Lear and Leontes who descended into madness and became tyrants during their legitimate reign, and finally Julius Caesar and Coriolanus who set out to topple the republic, in which Caesar succeeded, but which was thwarted in Coriolanus’ case. On top of that, the book does not only explain the historical and political realities during Shakespeare’s time which were sometimes reflected in those plays, but also draws highly visible parallels to a certain current administration, without mentioning it even a single time.
So, what makes a tyrant? There is the pathological narcissism and the fraudulent populism; they are the enemies of the future, in that they would also destroy the next generations. All of them are indeed capable in forcing their way to the top, but are or would be absolutely incompetent rulers, with most of them fostering a palpable disdain or at least a great disregard for the masses. Greenblatt lays out their psychology in a convincing way and shows us their commonalities, but also their differences.
The most chilling chapter, however, is called ‘Enablers’ and deals with the various responses of the people around an emerging tyrant. There are of course those that are fooled, frightened, or want to take advantage. However, there are also those who normalise that which is not normal, those who fail to realise that what seemed impossible is actually happening, and then finally those who carry out his damaging orders and without whom no tyranny would be possible. Shakespeare clearly thought that even relatively stable and healthy societies would crumble under the assault of someone that is ruthless and unscrupulous enough, or would have trouble dealing with a legitimate ruler who became unstable.
The examination of Coriolanus, which comes last, brings some hope into the discussion. The plebeian tribunes are the ones averting the disaster, and although they are not good people, as they are as self-serving and callous as their opponents, they are more than good at their jobs and save Rome from tyranny. Shakespeare believed that the tyrants would ultimately fail, because they would be brought down by an irrepressible spirit of humanity that would always rise against them. If we can take anything from that it is that resistance by the people and their immediate representatives is absolutely vital. It is also clear that those who attempt to prevent such a development must first of all be vigilant against the first signs of a descent into tyranny, and should not put too much trust in the stability of the status quo. It is a slippery slope and things can change more quickly than one imagines.
The commentary on current world events is impossible to miss, and it is not only applicable to the US but also to many other countries where demagogues and enemies of democracy are on the rise. The arguments are laid out in a precise and engaging manner, and are supported by quotes from the plays. That no mention of any current event is ever made, but the intent and conclusions are nonetheless obvious to the reader, is a credit to the author’s writing skill. On top of that, Greenblatt made me once again fall in love with Shakespeare, not only for the timeless relevance of his works, but also his uncanny ability to look that clearly into the hearts of men.
