Hard Times: Fatal Flaws vs Smiling Villains

The fatal flaws of Shakespearean tragedies cause empathy for them, unlike the smiling conceited villains of these days, rues Harinder, in this verse, exclusively for Different Truths.

Hamlet had a tormented soul.
He was sure of nothing at all.
His mind was confused; he lacked clarity.
And wasted a lifetime debating “To be or not to be.”
He knew wrong had been done.
He knew he was the wronged man’s son.
And yet kept on only contemplating revenge.
People of his time could only exhibit so much patience.
And then there was Lady Macbeth so shaken.
For all the perfumes of Arabia could not sweeten
Her bloody hands.
And today, we are living on this Land,
That boasts of smiling villains.
Every day their numbers are growing by millions.
They kill without a cause.
They play with their knives without a pause.
They slit throats with unimaginable ease.
And proudly tell others about their expertise.
I beg you, oh! My Lord!
Save the people! Save this world!
Let people think before they act.
The voice of their conscience should
Stop them from committing evil deeds.
To kill someone, where is the need?
Save us from vultures that eat flesh raw.
We don’t mind more Hamlets being
Born with the same tragic flaw.

Picture design by Anumita Roy