Gollub's statement that "altruism vs. ego is a common theme of the tragedies of Shakespeare": this
seems an unsupported notion, given the tragedies themselves. Key, in point, are two of the most well-known:
Hamlet & Romeo&Juliet. IMHO, the only completely altruistic characters in these particular plays are,
respectively, Horatio and Benvolio - neither of whom is, unfortunately, actively involved in the conflict.
Don't these two stand as balance points, or sources of reason, somewhat like a Greek chorus, or Lear's fool? And the very name Benvolio seems to suggest altruistic behavior.
I'm not saying that I agree with Gollub, and your citations well refute what ws said in the short time allotted to him on TV - I just tossed it out as food for thought. As for altruism being dead, I did get hyperbolic, but the world seems so steeped in egoistic corporate power and the de-selfing of the common person (as seen in the term "consumer" usurping the place and implicit rights of "customer") that I go overboard with exaggeration at times.
As for your mentioning Arthur Miller's "All My Sons," I'm more worried about another "Crucible," wherein the righteous kill the right. Dr Bill, you lived through the time Miller wrote about in allegory. Do you not see parallels?
