“Populist Dynamics” [#3/10 reflections on Stephen Greenblatt’s book – Tyrant – Shakespeare on Politics]
When populism mixes into yarn,
A new dynamic rises – threat of harm;
“The great unwashed”, devoid of cultured ways,
Are used, and feared, but bit-part often play.Their swingy-ness and fickle basic needs,
From Maslow’s chart, from bottom level feed;
They’re not respected by the upper crust,
Though they provide pie-filling, as they must.The Civil War for English, French, and Yanks,
Used populism’s energy for ranks
Of cannon fodder – tossing them a bone,
While upper echelons stayed safely home.The blow-hard local leader has his role –
Of use to power-players in the know;
And when that person’s use has passed away,
He’s quickly dumped – lets hero saves the day.For “Law and order” paradigm clicks in
When second act of fiction-plot begins –
Create a mess, then swoop in with a mop
To clean the mess, then power-role you’ve got.Of course, there may be two steps in between,
As in this case – but ask just what it means
When chaos rises then abruptly ends –
“Who gains from this? Now who to power ascends?”In Chapter Three the author’s point of view
Emerges – middle class; and nothing new
Transpires – dislike, suspicion of the mass
I sense between the lines when done at last.For author does not see the great unwashed
As solving what’s amiss – the coup is botched –
One party seizes power, the rest stand down;
Not much has changed – nice archetype he’s found.Thanks Lord for this.
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