All the world’s a stage,

And all the men and women merely players;

They have their exits and their entrances,

And one man in his time plays many parts …

– William Shakespeare

Joe Biden and Donald Trump have both played many parts.

Biden was an adjunct professor at Widener University School of Law from 1991 to 2008, a U.S. senator from Delaware from 1973 to 2009 (reelected six times), the 47th vice president of the United States from 2009 to 2017, during which he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the 46th president of the United States from 2021 to 2025.

Trump received a bachelor of science degree in economics from the University of Pennsylvania in 1968. His father named him president of his real estate business in 1971, which he renamed the Trump Organization and reoriented toward building and renovating skyscrapers, hotels, casinos, and golf courses.

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After a series of business failures in the late 1990s, he launched side ventures by mostly licensing his Trump name. From 2004 to 2015, he produced and hosted the reality television series “The Apprentice” that featured his catchphrase “You’re fired.” He and his businesses have been plaintiffs or defendants in more than 4,000 legal actions, including six business bankruptcies.

Trump won the 2016 presidential election as the Republican Party nominee against Democratic Party nominee Hillary Clinton while losing the popular vote. A special counsel investigation established that Russia had interfered in the election to favor Trump. His election and policies sparked numerous protests.

He was the only U.S. president without military or government experience. Trump promoted conspiracy theories and made many false and misleading statements during his campaigns and presidency, to a degree unprecedented in American politics.

I was drawn to Shakespeare’s classic quote by Trump’s transparent and truculent “performance” of his acceptance/coronation speech at the Republican National Convention. Like many of the convention delegates, I zoned out as 45 approached the hour mark. It was make-believe, as was his role on the TV “Apprentice” series.

Adam Gopnik’s recent column in The New Yorker discusses President Biden’s decision to step down from the 2024 presidential race, framing it as a Shakespearean moment in American politics. Gopnik draws parallels between Biden and characters from Shakespeare’s plays, particularly John of Gaunt from “Richard II.”

He also likens Biden to a tragic Shakespearean figure, specifically King Lear, suggesting that Biden’s fall recalls the themes of dignity, aging, and the relinquishing of power seen in Shakespeare’s plays. This duality captures the essence of a tragic hero who is both noble and vulnerable.

Gopnik contrasts Biden’s dignified exit with Trump’s erratic behavior when he refused to concede the 2020 election to Biden, instead insisting that he had won by a large margin. Even after the Electoral College confirmed Biden’s victory, Trump continued to push for the results to be overturned.

He maintained that the election was fraudulent and urged Republicans to “take action.” At the Save America rally on Jan. 6, 2021 Trump gave a speech that repeated false claims of election fraud and told supporters, “If you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore.” Trump urged the crowd to march to the Capitol, saying he would be with them. Many rioters later cited Trump’s words as their motivation for storming the Capitol.

His actions have had a profound impact on American politics, contributing to ongoing debates about election integrity, the peaceful transfer of power and the demise of the traditional Republican Party.

I equate Trump with Iago, a central character in William Shakespeare’s tragedy “Othello,” who stands out for his pure malevolence and his ability to destroy lives primarily through manipulation. What makes Iago particularly villainous is his lack of remorse or redemption. Unlike some other Shakespearean villains, Iago shows no guilt or attempt to undo his evil deeds. He uses words and subtle tactics to exploit people’s insecurities rather than overt violence.

Trump represents a more insidious and modern conception of evil that continues to resonate with his MAGA followers.

Iago is described as probably the most destructive of Shakespeare’s characters. He systematically destroys multiple lives during the course of the play through manipulation and deceit, causing several deaths and ruined careers.

Then we have “All’s Well That Ends Well,” which concludes with revelations and apparent honesty, but also raises questions about the role of deception in achieving desired outcomes. The resolution, built on a foundation of tricks and lies, prompts consideration of whether the ends justify the means. This ambiguity enriches the play’s exploration of love, social norms, and the possibility of happy endings.

John Bos graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in 1957 with a bachelor’s degree in theater. For a number of years, he looked to the theater as his “church” because of unpopular truths that that many playwrights brought to the stage. Bos is also a contributing columnist for Green Energy Times. Questions and comments are always invited at john01370@gmail.com.