Isaac Butler’s “Did Richard II Provoke an Elizabethan Rebellion?” examines the influence of Shakespeare’s Richard II on the second Earl of Essex and his men. The day before the Essex’s rebellion against Queen Elizabeth, some of the Essex’s men organized and paid for a performance of a play. Most likely, the play was Shakespeare’s Richard II which recounts the “usurpation and murder of an unpopular ruler” (Butler, 2018). In addition to a fee for service, Essex’s men provided the actors with additional compensation. Despite the fact that Butler postulates this extra money accounts for the play’s unpopularity, this act demonstrates the men’s support of the play’s central message. Furthermore, the gratuity given to the actors highlights the relationship between money and leadership. Money influences individuals, and leaders can use this to their advantage. Although the men’s decision to commission the play was not corrupt, Richard II arguably contains ideas that fueled their rebellion against Queen Elizabeth. In this scenario, monetary reward served as a tool of affirmation.
This discussion parallels the controversy surrounding donations to political campaigns by CEOs’ of corporate America. Specifically, a CEO’s financial support to a political candidate and subsequently their platform. Most recently, the chairman of the parent company that owns both Equinox and SoulCycle, Stephen Ross, hosted a fundraiser for President Trump. Subsequently, both companies received tremendous backlash from their consumers who interpreted Ross’ act as affirmation of these companies of President Trump’s politics. This recent situation suggests that the relationship between leadership and money remains complex.
I found it very interesting how you were able to bring the perhaps dated subject of the article into the present day environment by relating it to current political hot topic. The power of money is just as prevalent today as it was in 1601.
I agree with both posters in what they say about the role of money in leadership and politics. To bring up another example, the recent death of David Koch marks the end of the life of one of the most prominent Republican donors in recent generations. What’s also interesting to note, though, is that now that our world is significantly more connected that it was during Shakespeare’s time, money often also comes with recognition and fame.
I really enjoyed your comparisons to political donations by CEO’s. It just goes to show how in many cases both historical and modern, money seems to hold the true power in a society over the established government/leader. Money has always driven many decisions in the political sphere, whether that is during the time of Elizabeth I or today in America under Donald Trump.