![\"1280px-FirstFolioCoriolanus_opt\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/169\/2016\/04\/1280px-FirstFolioCoriolanus_opt.jpg\")
Nothing is worse than when the rich oppress the poor except, perhaps, when the poor revolt and murder for justice. Oppression and revolution are both ugly. America has a ruling oligarchy too content in power, but also a rising underclass full of envy and ill considered anger. Nobody is right and everybody is wrong.<\/p>\n
We are in a dangerous moment.<\/p>\n
The poor are restrained by the state, eaten up by our wars, corrupted by the libertine morals of the upper class. They deserve better than they receive, but are incapable of knowing what they need. The rich and powerful are smart enough to contain a diversity of answers, but moderation is too little too late for the put upone poor.<\/p>\n
Shakespeare foresaw all of this in his tragedy\u00a0Coriolanus.\u00a0<\/em>The rich \u00a0in this imaginary Rome that Shakespeare creates are starving the poor, but the poor are ignorant and so harm their own good by their rebellion. \u00a0Coriolanus defends Rome in battle, but is upset with the people, because he knows they have do not merely want what is due but:<\/p>\n who desires most that Which would increase his evil.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Coriolanus is a great man in battle, but not a loving man. The danger to a republic is when love and competence, integrity and the multitude are separated. \u00a0He is no grifter, refusing cash prizes for his service in war:<\/p>\n I thank you, general; He loves Rome, but not Romans. He has tools to be a great leader, but not the personality. He needs to be bear to the enemies of Rome, but a lamb to her people Instead, he is a bear to everyone. The people turn to demagogues with less integrity, but more facile tongues. The great danger to a republic is when people love flattery more than integrity. In Christian ministry this happens when the leader tells the people what they wish to hear (\u201ctickling ears<\/a>\u201c) rather than the Word of God. The Christian leader who will not speak the truth in difficult days will leave his people sheep for the slaughter by the wolves of this age.<\/p>\n Coriolanus has integrity, but in their pain the people no longer want integrity. They want what they want and Coriolanus tells his mother:<\/p>\n Know, good mother, The demagogues and the corrupt leaders know that integrity cannot last if it lacks humility. The elite plan Corilolanus downfall so they can keep exploiting the people:<\/p>\n This, as you say, suggested Coriolanus will not flatter the people, even to win office.<\/p>\n I will counterfeit the A man of accomplishments can forget humanity:<\/p>\n You speak o\u2019 the people, Politics cannot survive when the mob are manipulated by smooth talking and the best men cannot win them.<\/p>\n This double worship, Almost as bad is when the good men cannot speak kindly to the people:<\/p>\n His nature is too noble for the world: 2055<\/span> Parties in a Republic can become vehicles for demagoguery. Washington feared political parties, because he understood the dangers:<\/p>\n Proceed by process; Shakespeare fears a condition in a country where the best men cannot win, because the people long for flattery, entertainment, and lies more than deeds and integrity. Coriolanus understands that honor and tact must go together in a republic (ancient or modern:<\/p>\n You are too absolute; Yet Coriolanus will not play the game. He will not show his wounds or defend his record. Arrogance destroys him.<\/p>\n Revenge is one of the worst things any human can seek. Coriolanus is banished by the foolish Romans, but he is worse in his reactio. He seeks out the enemies of Rome to get revenge and dies far from home..<\/p>\n We cannot create who we are or defy our duty to God, our family, the church, or our community.\u00a0Corialanus\u00a0<\/em> warns those in the leadership class to listen, learn, and evolve. For the rest of us, we must choose the best man and not the man who tells what we long to hear.<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2013<\/p>\n William Shakespeare went to God four hundred years ago. To recollect his death, I am writing a personal reflection on a few of his plays.\u00a0The Winter\u2019s Tale\u00a0<\/a><\/em>started things off, followed by\u00a0As You Like It<\/a>. Romeo and Juliet<\/a>\u00a0<\/em>still matter,\u00a0Lady Macbeth<\/a> rebukes the lust for power, and Henry V<\/a> is a hero. Richard II <\/a>shows us not to presume on the grace of God or rebel against authority too easily.\u00a0Coriolanus<\/a>\u00a0<\/em>reminds us that our leaders need integrity and humility.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Nothing is worse than when the rich oppress the poor except, perhaps, when the poor revolt and murder for justice. Oppression and revolution are both ugly. America has a ruling oligarchy too content in power, but also a rising underclass full of envy and ill considered anger. Nobody is right and everybody is wrong. We […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1007,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,8,5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7341","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-culture","category-on-books","category-spiritual-reflections"],"yoast_head":"\n
\nBut cannot make my heart consent to take
\nA bribe to pay my sword: I do refuse it;
\nAnd stand upon my common part with those
\nThat have beheld the doing. . He loves Rome and wins great honor for his state. He has courage and honor, but not tact or love for his people.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nI had rather be their servant in my way,
\nThan sway with them in theirs.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nAt some time when his soaring insolence
\nShall touch the people\u2014which time shall not want,
\nIf he be put upon \u2018t; and that\u2019s as easy
\nAs to set dogs on sheep\u2014will be his fire 1205<\/span>
\nTo kindle their dry stubble; and their blaze
\nShall darken him for ever<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nbewitchment of some popular man and give it
\nbountiful to the desirers. Therefore, beseech you,
\nI may be consul.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nAs if you were a god to punish, not
\nA man of their infirmity<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nWhere one part does disdain with cause, the other
\nInsult without all reason, where gentry, title, wisdom, 1905<\/span>
\nCannot conclude but by the yea and no
\nOf general ignorance,\u2014it must omit
\nReal necessities, and give way the while
\nTo unstable slightness: purpose so barr\u2019d,
\nit follows, 1910<\/span>
\nNothing is done to purpose.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nHe would not flatter Neptune for his trident,
\nOr Jove for\u2019s power to thunder. His heart\u2019s his mouth:
\nWhat his breast forges, that his tongue must vent;
\nAnd, being angry, does forget that ever
\nHe heard the name of death.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nLest parties, as he is beloved, break out,
\nAnd sack great Rome with Romans.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nThough therein you can never be too noble,
\nBut when extremities speak. I have heard you say,
\nHonour and policy, like unsever\u2019d friends,
\nI\u2019 the war do grow together: grant that, and tell me,
\nIn peace what each of them by the other lose,
\nThat they combine not there.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n