The Method of Shakespeare as an Artist; Deduced from an Analysis of His Leading Tragedies and Comedies (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. 1870. Excerpt: ... MACBETH. rriHIS highly lyrical and picturesque drama dif--fers as widely in tone and coloring from the tragedy of " Hamlet," over which is thrown the "pale cast of thought," as Macbeth, the feudal chieftain, the man of will and action, diners from the irresolute and clerkly Danish prince. In both these characters there is disproportion and want of balance, but the preponderating weights are thrown into opposite scales. In Hamlet, the power of action is defeated through a paralysis of the will, produced by excess of thought and reflection; in Macbeth, " the pauser, reason " is overborne, and the will precipitated into action through the influence of inordinate desire; the characters are, therefore, psychological opposites, and the two plays are in direct contrast with each other. In " Hamlet," man is represented in relation to God; in "Macbeth," in relation to the State. But the relation of man to God is an inward and spiritual one. "Hamlet," therefore, treats of the soul and its faculties, its immortality, its sin, and its responsibility in the world beyond the grave. This present life is viewed but as "a passing through nature to eternity," under the guidance of conscience, which looks to the inward motive, not the outward act; and even the errors of man, as depicted in this " tragedy of thought," spring from inward and subjective causes, and belong to the spiritual side of his nature. They are attempts of the intellect to impugn the authority of conscience by doubts, or evade its injunctions by craft. On the other hand, the relation of man to the State is an external and corporal one; for the State can take no cognizance of the inward motive, except so far as it is expressed in the outward act. As a member of society, man is a part of an organized whole...