Act III Scene I

by Grok&Owen

8 min read

For Act III Scene I, the focus shifts to Donald Trump, Bill Maher and Kid Rock upon their journey across the seas. They are aboard some Elizabethan seafaring version of Airforce One. So far in this conversation there have been 86 uses of the word "humanize", applying to Donald Trump. This is derived from the Fink article, which plainly does not approve doing such. Bill Maher uses Trump's laughter as a criterion for his humanity, clearly an affront to the humorless scolds in the Liberal Throng. Maher and Trump are discussing what they have originally heard from the Liberal Throng "To humanize a tyrant, crowned in gold". They are wondering why they are perceived thus and Maher is talking about his friend Shylock who is also human - and if you prick him, also doth bleed. Trump recalls the day the rhetorick of the Liberal Throng inspired the evil doer who unleashed a leaden ball upon his ear, and nearly ended his life.

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Scene: Act III, Scene I – "The Voyage of Revelry"

Background Context: This scene shifts the focus of "A Feast Most Foul: A Comedic Farce in the Year of Our Lord 2025" to Donald Trump, Bill Maher, and Kid Rock, who are returning from their journey across the seas on November 5, 2025, Guy Fawkes Day, as established in Act II, Scene IV. The trio is aboard an Elizabethan seafaring version of Air Force One, a grand galleon named The Golden Eagle, adorned with gilded sails and dollar signs, reflecting Trump’s flamboyant persona. The scene addresses the 86 uses of the word "humanize" in the conversation, derived from Hugh Fink’s article in The Hill, which disapproves of Maher’s attempt to humanize Trump by noting his genuine laughter. Maher and Trump discuss the Liberal Throng’s accusation, "To humanize a tyrant, crowned in gold," reflecting on why they are perceived as such. Maher references his "friend Shylock," invoking Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice to argue for shared humanity, while Trump recalls the assassination attempt on July 13, 2024, inspired by the Throng’s rhetoric, as detailed in the web result Attempted assassination of Donald Trump in Pennsylvania - Wikipedia.

The Humanization Debate: The 86 mentions of "humanize" stem from Fink’s critique of Maher’s attempt to portray Trump as human through his laughter, which the humorless Liberal Throng finds affronting, as seen in their earlier outrage ("To humanize a tyrant, crowned in gold"). Maher’s reference to Shylock ties to the web result Recognizing Shylock’s Humanity in The Merchant of Venice | Folger Shakespeare Library, emphasizing shared humanity ("If you prick us, do we not bleed?"), while Trump’s recollection of the assassination attempt highlights the real-world consequences of the Throng’s rhetoric, adding a darker tone to the farce.

Setting: The scene takes place aboard The Golden Eagle, a majestic Elizabethan galleon sailing across stormy seas on November 5, 2025. The ship’s deck is adorned with golden sails emblazoned with dollar signs, and a large cabin features a throne-like chair for Trump, a jester’s stool for Maher, and a lute stand for Kid Rock. The storm from Act II, Scene V rages outside, with waves crashing against the hull and lightning illuminating the sky, reflecting the chaos back on land. The cabin is lit by flickering lanterns, casting dramatic shadows as the trio reflects on their predicament.

Characters:

  • Donald Trump, the King: In his velvet robe with dollar signs, Trump sits on his throne-like chair, a bandage on his ear from the assassination attempt, reflecting on the Throng’s rhetoric.
  • Bill Maher, the Jester: In his red-and-yellow motley, Maher paces the cabin, bells jingling, invoking Shylock to argue for humanity.
  • Kid Rock, the Bard: In his minstrel garb, Kid Rock strums his lute, adding levity to the conversation with a sea shanty.
  • A Cabin Boy: A minor character, scurrying about with a tray of goblets, adding comedic bustle to the scene.

Scene: Act III, Scene I – "The Voyage of Revelry"

The cabin of The Golden Eagle sways as the storm rages outside, waves crashing against the hull and lightning flashing through the portholes. DONALD TRUMP, the King, sits on his throne-like chair, a bandage on his ear, his golden crown tilted. BILL MAHER, the Jester, paces, bells jingling, while KID ROCK, the Bard, strums a lute with a Confederate flag sticker, humming a shanty. A CABIN BOY scurries in with a tray of goblets, nearly spilling them as the ship lurches.

BILL MAHER (pacing, gesturing animatedly, bells jingling):
O King, this storm doth mirror Throng’s disdain,
Whose quills do scribe our names in bitter rain!
They cry, “To humanize a tyrant, crowned in gold,”
As if thy laughter makes thee tyrant bold!
Yet I, who heard thy mirth at banquet’s feast,
Did find thee human, not a gilded beast.
Methinks of Shylock, friend from Venice fair,
Who said, “If you prick us, do we not bleed there?”
For he, though scorned, did prove his heart’s true beat—
So why, good Trump, do they thy mirth mistreat?

DONALD TRUMP (adjusting his crown, touching his bandaged ear, voice grave):
Good Jester, thou dost speak with wisdom rare,
Yet Throng’s sharp words do pierce me past repair!
Their rhet’ric fierce, in twenty-four’s dark year,
Did rouse an evil doer, void of fear.
On July’s thirteenth day, in Butler’s field,
A leaden ball did seek my life to yield—
Young Crooks, with rifle’s aim, did strike mine ear,
And near did end my reign, in blood and fear!
The Throng’s own hate, with cries of “tyrant” shrill,
Did fan such flames, to bid my heart be still!
They name me monster, yet I laugh as men,
Why must they scorn the mirth within my ken?

KID ROCK (strumming his lute, singing a shanty, voice jovial):
Ho, ho, the seas do rage, the skies do weep,
But laughter’s ours, on Golden Eagle’s sweep!
I brokered peace, ‘twixt Jester and our King,
Yet Throng doth scorn the mirth that we do bring!
Let storms arise, let lightning strike the mast,
Our revelry shall hold, while tempests last!
For human hearts, though pricked, do bleed the same,
So let them scorn—we’ll play this merry game!

BILL MAHER (stopping his pacing, turning to TRUMP, voice earnest):
O Trump, thy tale doth chill me to the bone,
For Throng’s sharp quills have seeds of violence sown!
Their humorless disdain, a scold so cold,
Doth name thee tyrant, for thy crown of gold.
Yet Shylock’s words, in Venice long ago,
Did prove that all, in blood and tears, do flow.
I saw thy laugh, a sound so true and free,
And deemed thee man, as man thou ought’st to be!
But Throng, with quills that sting like winter’s frost,
Doth count such mirth as honor’s dearest cost!

DONALD TRUMP (rising, voice booming over the storm):
Enough, good Jester, let their quills decry!
I’ll laugh e’en more, beneath this stormy sky!
Their words did near my mortal coil unbind,
Yet here I stand, with mirth they’ll ne’er unfind!
On Fawkes’ dark day, we sail to shores once more,
And face their scorn, as we have done before.
Let them name me tyrant, let them rage and wail,
My laughter’s truth shall evermore prevail!

(The ship lurches as a massive wave crashes, the CABIN BOY spilling the goblets with a yelp. KID ROCK laughs, strumming louder, as lightning illuminates the cabin, casting dramatic shadows of the trio.)

CABIN BOY (scrambling to pick up the goblets, voice panicked):
O noble sirs, the storm doth rage without,
The seas do roar, the skies with thunder shout!
We near the shore, this fifth of November night,
What welcome waits, ‘neath such a stormy light?

KID ROCK (grinning, strumming a final chord):
A welcome warm, or fiery scorn, we’ll see,
But laughter’s ours, on this fair Eagle’s sea!

(The storm howls, the ship creaking as it nears the shore, where the smoldering bonfire and muddy square await. The scene fades, the trio’s laughter echoing over the tempest, setting the stage for their confrontation with the Throng’s schemes.)

How This Scene Reflects the Humanization Debate and Incorporates the Conversation

The Humanization Debate:

  • 86 Uses of "Humanize": The scene directly addresses the 86 mentions of "humanize" in the conversation, rooted in Fink’s article, which disapproves of Maher’s attempt to humanize Trump. Maher’s focus on Trump’s laughter ("I saw thy laugh, a sound so true and free") as a criterion for humanity mirrors his real-world comments in the article, where he noted Trump’s genuine laugh as a sign of humanity, an affront to the humorless Liberal Throng.
  • Throng’s Accusation: The line "To humanize a tyrant, crowned in gold" is directly quoted from Act I, Scene II, reflecting the Throng’s outrage at Maher’s actions. Trump and Maher ponder why they are perceived as such, with Trump’s "crown of gold" symbolizing his wealth and power, which the Throng views as tyrannical.
  • Shylock Reference: Maher invokes Shylock from The Merchant of Venice, referencing the web result Recognizing Shylock’s Humanity in The Merchant of Venice | Folger Shakespeare Library, where Shylock’s humanity is recognized through shared experiences ("If you prick us, do we not bleed?"). Maher uses this to argue that Trump, like Shylock, is human despite being scorned, challenging the Throng’s dehumanizing rhetoric.
  • Trump’s Laughter: Maher’s criterion of Trump’s laughter as proof of humanity directly ties to the article’s critique, where Maher noted, “I’ve never seen him laugh in public. But he does, including at himself. And it’s not fake.” This affronts the Throng’s humorless scolding, as they view such humanization as a betrayal.

Trump’s Assassination Attempt:

  • Historical Event: Trump recalls the assassination attempt on July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pennsylvania, as detailed in the web result Attempted assassination of Donald Trump in Pennsylvania - Wikipedia. Thomas Matthew Crooks fired a bullet that struck Trump’s ear, a significant security failure by the Secret Service. Trump attributes this to the Throng’s rhetoric ("Their rhet’ric fierce… Did fan such flames"), reflecting the web result’s note of social media trends comparing the event to the Reichstag fire, suggesting the Throng’s words incited violence.
  • Emotional Impact: Trump’s reflection on the attempt adds a darker tone to the farce, showing the real-world consequences of the Throng’s dehumanizing rhetoric, which nearly cost him his life, as seen in his line, “And near did end my reign, in blood and fear!”

Incorporation of the Conversation:

  • Fink’s Article: The scene directly engages with Fink’s disapproval of humanizing Trump, as Maher defends his actions, while Trump questions the Throng’s perception of him as a tyrant, echoing the article’s central critique.
  • Throng’s Rhetoric: The Throng’s line, "To humanize a tyrant, crowned in gold," is a recurring motif, reflecting their outrage from earlier scenes and the conversation’s focus on their reaction to Maher’s actions.
  • Shylock’s Humanity: The reference to Shylock ties to the Folger Shakespeare Library web result, emphasizing shared humanity as a counterpoint to the Throng’s dehumanization, aligning with the conversation’s exploration of whether humanizing Trump implies dehumanization.
  • Assassination Attempt: Trump’s recollection of the July 13, 2024, attempt directly incorporates the web result, adding historical weight to the scene and showing the consequences of the Throng’s rhetoric, as discussed in the conversation.

Setting and Tone:

  • Elizabethan Air Force One: The Golden Eagle as an Elizabethan galleon with gilded sails and dollar signs reflects Trump’s flamboyant persona, blending the historical setting with modern satire, as seen in the dollar-sign motifs from the poster.
  • Storm Connection: The storm raging outside ties to Act II, Scene V, where Verity attributed it to climate change, adding continuity and reflecting the chaos on land as the trio nears their return.
  • Farce and Reflection: The scene balances the play’s farcical tone with deeper reflection, as Maher and Trump ponder their perception, Kid Rock adds levity with his shanty, and the storm underscores the brewing conflict awaiting them.

This scene shifts the focus to Trump, Maher, and Kid Rock, exploring the humanization debate through their reflections, while setting the stage for their return to face the Throng’s escalated smear campaign on Guy Fawkes Day.