Hell is empty, and all the devils are here!

One of the most poignant lines from Shakespeare’s, The Tempest, is without a doubt the most apt to describe the state of our post-modern world.

Act I, Scene I, The Tempest, William Shakespeare, in an engraving by Benjamin Smith based on a painting by George Romney.

Personally, I consider the times we live in to be the most egregious in history. Perhaps a tall statement to make, and how would I ever really know, you may ask.

I lament so, because we have no excuse for not knowing what to do and what not to do, unlike the ancient or medieval worlds, and in the case of the medievalists, they at least had access to manuscripts as a guide.

We have been left so many clues, yet we choose to ignore them. It is a wilful act of bastardry - my international readers will have to forgive me for resorting to Aussie slang, but due to Australia’s critical situation of being so close to the precipice of full blown communism, I take leave on the usage of this colloquialism.

As for the play from which I have resurrected this phrase, The Tempest, nothing could be so close to describing the environment of which my nation is currently in.

Tempest - a violent storm; an outburst; an uproar; an occurrence of great tumult.

All are appropriate terms to use for our current state of discord and disharmony.

No, I stand by William’s words in describing the state of the world - Hell is indeed empty because all of the devils are here at this time.