{"id":592,"date":"2019-09-10T17:35:30","date_gmt":"2019-09-10T21:35:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/ldst1010304f2019\/?p=592"},"modified":"2019-10-15T14:02:00","modified_gmt":"2019-10-15T18:02:00","slug":"blog-post-2-richard-iii","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/ldst1010304f2019\/2019\/09\/10\/blog-post-2-richard-iii\/","title":{"rendered":"Blog Post 3: Richard III"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dr. Bezio’s paper, “Crooked Politics: Shakespeare’s Richard III<\/em> and Leadership in 21st Century America,” is one of many examples of toxic leadership traits pervading both medieval and modern leadership. We discuss in class many medieval examples of leadership– whether it be charismatic, toxic charismatic, tyrannical, or any possibility– because there are so many modern-day connections we can make to leaders such as Donald Trump. Although technology and political ideas may have shifted, \u201cWe are as likely to fall victim to toxic charisma as were medieval nobles or early modern playgoers,\u201d (Bezio 5) because followers will inherently fall for the same tricks toxic charismatics play to gain acclaim. The comparisons are endless: promising economic stability, division of partisan lines, the objectification of female leaders, lack of political experience, convincing higher-power representatives of candidacy, bigotry, and many more. Although we had discussed medieval leadership as a precursor for modern leadership, I did not realize how blatant the parallel was.<\/p>\n

I was also intrigued by Bezio\u2019s speculation that women entering the political sphere today can \u201csave\u201d us. We often hear the quote from Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, \u201cWell-behaved women seldom make history,\u201d (Lavoie, The Harvard Gazette<\/em>); Bezio discusses the \u201cunruly\u201d women present in Richard III<\/em> use powerful words against Richard to knock him down. Despite his misogyny and accusations of the women\u2019s witchcraft, these women are part of what gets Henry to power. Comparing this medieval literary account to modern-day political implications is important in studying patterns of leadership methods. Women in politics such as Rashida Tlaib and AOC make their cases against Trump through their oratory to be \u201cunruly\u201d against Trump\u2019s main ideologies. It is these women in power– particularly women of color, LGBTQ+ folks, and individuals with intersecting identities– who will help shift the public opinion against a toxic charismatic such as Donald Trump.<\/p>\n

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Anna Marston<\/p>\n

Ulrich explains that well-behaved women should make history<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n