We begin this writing with a statement of appreciation for a measure of acquired insight derived from a recent review of two well-known children’s classics, “Grimm Brothers Fairy Tales” and “Tales of Hans Christian Anderson.” These readings furnished us with an analogous understanding of several, popularly known, human archetypes.
We learned that the quintessential ogre exhibits two discreet varieties. The first is stereotypically male, dwarf or giant-sized, often demonstrating a protuberant, bulbous nose, big intense fiery eyes, larger-than-life ears, short arms, and wears boots; sometimes (most especially in the Norwegian genre) additionally evincing a large toothy grimace. This genre, by reason of its facile identifiability, is significantly less treacherous than its surreptitious comparative. Notably, there exists a small minority of this discreet population of ogre that, notwithstanding their terrifying external appearance, evince a benevolent, and even on occasion, a loving disposition (example, leprechauns).
The second, and, notably, the most numerous genre of ogre, (exemplified by the specific subject of this writing) is predictably, dangerous, malevolent, and entirely lacking in sentiment or empathy. As stated, this category, by contrast, is not characterized by the easily recognizable grotesque image of the described fairy tale ogre, but rather, possesses an initial disarming and insidious, human countenance. As a consequence, its potential for toxic wrongdoing is more insidious and destructive.
Our thematic protagonist, a member of the second variety and, accordingly, not immediately identifiable as an ogre, is the orange-haired member of the species, Donald J. Trump. Unlike the etiology of the fairy storybook ogre, the Trump variety of ogre (viz., the second ogre configuration) generally, does not owe its advent to a traditional witch’s spell. The nuanced etiology of our chosen ogre is endemically developmental and systemically, self-generated.
Our protagonist exhibits the usual, perverse cornucopia of traits common to the second genre of (normal appearing) ogres, but, in addition, as a singularly nuanced feature, perceives the world and his immediate environment with entirely autonomous and self-interested lenses. The Trump ogre maintains the reductive ideation that matters of importance are exclusively those that are seen to affect him and his personalized fantasies. Any degree of rational analysis of the horrific effect of this ogre’s bizarre elevation to the omnipotent American Presidency and his incapable and self-interested performance will find it comparable to the proverbial fox, taxed with the duty of protection of guarding the hen house.
One can, presumably conceive the development of his systemic persona, starting as an “infant terrible” who might violently kick his mother in the shins, fully cognizant of the predictable punitive response, overridden by his insatiable need for immediate and exclusive attention. Such self-centered, childish immaturity appears to have chronically persisted in this 73-year-old autocratic ogre to whose perception, public admiration and acknowledged loyalty are, life-sustaining matters similar to food and drink.
In service to his insatiable appetite for admiration and perceived success, Trump, has self-interestedly committed an overly full, unattended, dumpster, (Trumpster?) of odious and blatantly criminal acts. (See prior writings for particulars). Stated briefly, our thematic ogre has been indicted for 91 felonies ranging from pay-offs to prostitutes and tax fraud to treason and the incitement of an insurrection As an aggravating feature, he has engaged in anti-democratic demagoguery, demanding, among other autocratically perverse statements, the scrapping of the Constitution and declaring that, if given a second term as Chief Executive, he would be a “Dictator.”
However, in our view, the most revelatory and demonstrative act of his perverse persona, albeit non-criminal, was his televised mimicking, vocally and physically, of a questioning media reporter, visibly afflicted with the unsightly tremors and physical disabilities of cerebral palsy. Such a clownish, pathological performance can be attributed only to the cruelest and pathological of ogres.
A modicum of credit, however, is due to this ogre (and obnoxious adult-mauvais enfant) for having ultimately succeeded in attaining his neurotic-childish goal of attracting attention. One cannot turn to the television media, irrespective of time or selected channel, with any prospect of avoiding his visage, accompanied by an intense discussion (usually negative) relating to his most current travesty. It may be observed that, in this respect, the purported “success” (viz., attention) eternally boasted by this ogre is singularly accurate.
It is unquestionably of primary and existential importance to the continuance of our Democratic Republic, that Donald J. Trump a/k/a “the Orange Ogre,” be defeated as the Republican candidate for the Presidency. To us, of secondary, but exigent, importance is the ridding of his incessantly broadcasted image and seedy soap opera from our daily lives.
* [Thanks to Dian Fosse for the amended use of her story name, “Gorillas in the Mist.”]
-p.
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