There is a great difference in the connotation of the word tyranny compared to pre-democratic Greek society and our modern post-democratic society. Before the rise of democracy, a tyrant was an oppressive ruler who came to power through inheritance or force. Despite their cruel ruling, the word “tyrant” did not have a negative connotation because no matter how they ruled, tyrants were strong leaders who brought upon positive changes to society. As democracies grew and spread, “tyrant” developed a negative connotation because they are now viewed as selfish, incompetent, and arrogant leaders who bring destruction to society.
An article from the Daily Intelligencer: America Takes Next Step towards Tyranny, defines our president as tyrant. The author, Andrew Sullivan, describes Trump’s presidency as “the purge. Any constraints that had been in place to moderate the tyrant’s whim are set aside; no advice that counters his own gut impulses can be tolerated.” People have been fired, or quit, because they can no longer deal with a tyrant in power. The article continues to point out that America’s wellbeing is not a concern in the eyes of Trump, instead all he wants is a push for capitalism overseas because that is how he himself achieved greatness. This article defines Trump as a tyrant based off of Plato’s definition of a tyrant. Our president can be compared to “a late-stage democracy, dripping with decadence and corruption, with elites dedicated primarily to enriching themselves, and a people well past any civic virtue.” There is worries that Trump will become even more dangerous in the future through manipulation of the Republican Party. They make it clear that our president has no care for collateral damage and is full of ignorance. Persuasive diction is used. If he continues at the rate he is going, “war is coming. And there will be nothing and no one to stop him.”
Sullivan has accused Trump to being a modern tyrant- decadent, cruel, unjust, and having little to no concern of the American people. I think that if you are reading this article with the pre-democratic definition it does not fit. This definition contradicts the connotation of a tyrant that the ancient Greeks had because instead of perfecting our country, it seems as if the majority of people think our president is failing America. However, if you are reading with a post-democratic definition it seems to fit because of how negatively Sullivan portrays Trump.
Work Cited
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/03/america-takes-the-next-step-toward-tyranny.html
The West in the Pre-Modern World 