A Study of Hamlet Based on Werder's Lectures (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1879 Excerpt: ...by nature; but, on the other side, whe shall also bo obliged to assert that there is in him a certain previous tendency to reveries; that he has a most sensitive constitution; that by events sorrowful, yet common, ho is more affected than any other man would be, that his ideas are not, as Werder maintains, expressions of quite a healthy mind; that he is somewhat morbidly excited. In such a mood he learns that his father's spirit in arms has been seen before the castle; he suspects some foul play; the very same night he is told the awful secret ') Werder's lectures p, 63. and commanded to revenge the unnatural murder committed by--his uncle, "whom, certainly, he bas always trusted like adders fang'd"; and yet he thinks it meet to set it down," that one may smile, and smile, and be a villain." This action is a subject of great difference among critics. Be it, at first, remembered, that the use of tablets or memorandum-books was, at the time of Shakespeare, very common, even in churches and theatres; the most admired passages and common places were inscribed in such booksNow we must put the question, does Hamlet really write? Ulrici, Elze, Delius, for instance, suppose that he does; Hebler, in one of his essays2), adheres to the same view; but when discussing Werder's explanation, he remarks3) that he has changed his opinion. According to him, Hamlet neither snatches a table-book from his pocket nor does he really write; he makes only the pantomime of writing, and not on a book, but on the table of his memory"; and how? by touching his forehead with his hand placed as in writing. "Werder sustains he draws out a note-book, but he does not admit that he sets down any words; he makes only some marks or points. Th...