A Plague O’ Both Your Houses

October 30th, 2016  |   

Last week I watched a fine performance of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet.” In the original Shakespeare performances, a few members of the audience were invited to sit on the edges of the stage, within a few feet of the actors. I got to do that as well, right there within touching distance of the performers.

Honestly, I was so close to the young couple, as they danced right by me, so close that I could easily have gotten up out of my seat and cut in on Romeo. Then I could have whispered in Juliet’s ear what Shakespeare had in mind for them. Then they could have averted the tragic ending. They could have escaped the tribal, family rivalry that brought death to their own children.

One of Shakespeare’s most interesting characters, Mercutio, buzzed around the stage doing what I had hoped to do. With his remarkable ability to communicate with both families, Mercutio was the only one who might be able to reconcile them, thus bringing a happy ending to the play.

That hope, however, was for naught. It was not meant to be. Mercutio is accidentally killed in the midst of a sword fight. But before he dies, he curses both the Montagues and the Capulets. “A plague o’ both your houses.”

We are coming to the end of this presidential campaign. It has been a horrible mess, the worst election campaign in my lifetime. So many people I talk with have been fixated on this battle between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, but can’t wait for it to be over. It has been disgusting.

At this point I can only say to both the Republican Party and the Democratic Party, “A plague o’ both your houses.” I have no heart for either party, nor for either candidate. Both could have done better, much better. And I have plenty of my own good reasons for saying that.

Both parties have contributed to an election that Shakespeare could very well have written into a tragedy.

The anger between both parties and candidates, in both the primary and general elections, has spilled over into everyday communication with family, friends and neighbors. On top of that, too many people will cast a reluctant vote, wishing they could have had a different choice, one that would have permitted them to leave the polling place next week with a feeling of satisfaction.

I feel quite sure that when the election is over the losing political party will have a major job of rebuilding itself. That most likely will also be true for the victorious party. The Nation magazine has concluded that Hillary will be elected, but it will be a time for organization, less for celebration.

A number of newly elected presidents, such as Roosevelt, Truman, and Obama, have ridden to Washington on a train for their inauguration. Who knows? Perhaps the next president will ride the rails into Washington this coming January, after an election that has certainly gone off the rails.

In my next Notes From Under the Fig Tree, later this week, I intend to write about a train the new president will certainly have to ride, be it Mr. Trump or Ms. Clinton.

A hint: It won’t be Cat Steven’s Peace Train.

 

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