Paul Adrian Fried / HAMLET'S BIBLE

On June 19 of this year, The Public Theater of New York published on YouTube their fine video of black actors from across the US reading Hamlet's speech, "To be or not to be." It's powerful and provocative, evoking the sense of cognitive dissonance and mystery that Hamlet feels he faces in the play. You can view it here: This video has been on my mind this week as I read of George Floyd/police protests in Portland, Oregon, and President Trump sending federal troops there, where Black Lives Matter protesters had occupied an area of the city. At first protesters were mostly peaceful, but Portland police used teargas, pepper spray, flash-bang grenades, and other devices that inspired an outcry and a restraining order from a judge, a sign of early progress. Yet after Trump sent in federal troops, violent methods were used again, as well as snatching demonstrators and detaining them indefinitely without charges. Oregon Public Broadcasting has an good account of the...

How do we make sense of recent events in the US, after the death of George Floyd, held down by four cops, one kneeling on his neck for eight minutes? [ CNN photo ] Does Shakespeare matter, help, or get in the way at times as we strive to make sense of the unfolding chaos, of the actions of provocateurs, the violence of the police and national guard against peaceful protesters? I'd like to offer a brief account of my understanding of the context, and then just a few insights from a handful of Shakespeare's plays, not an exhaustive list. [Note: I am not observing "Blackout Tuesday" in part because some have criticized it for being counter-productive at a time when people in the US should have access to information and discussion of current events , but I don't criticize or judge anyone who observes it due to their own convictions.] GEORGE FLOYD IN CONTEXT George Floyd was accused of trying to pass a counterfeit $20 bill. We don’t know if in fact it was ...