The Heart of Hamlet's Mystery (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. 1907 edition. Excerpt: ...tells us, "For me, with sorrow I embrace my fortune." But Hamlet must punish a crime; for this reason Hamlet "must go pray "--pray that a higher power will come to his aid, and from this feeling of his situation he breaks out with the words: "The time is out of joint;--O cursed spite That ever I was born to set it right " Soon the actors arrive and Hamlet instantly seizes upon the opportunity: "Can you play the Murther of Gonzago? We'll ha't to-morrow night." He recognises his opportun rity and utilizes it with great tact, as the best possible for his purpose. It is the best means for his end, for he must, for his own conviction, however strong his suspicions may be, have an objective proof, a living, breathing proof, a witness of flesh and blood to confirm these suspicions. J However trustworthy the ghost of his father may seem, to Hamlet he is only a ghost. "An honest ghost," he says. Yes for the ghost had only communicated to him that of which he himself had felt the presentiment and which his own feeling had suggested to him. But still doubts must creep in and give room for the suspicion of some deception, some unreal ghostly design; and if there had been deception it would certainly be so horrible that only the Devil himself could have conceived it. How can any one impugn this feeling of Hamlet, this longing for real proof, as a weakness? Would not such a man as he need more testimony to convince him than his own imagination, and stronger confirmation than that given by the midnight appearance of a spirit from purgatory? On the contrary, Hamlet's strength is shown by his calling the situation in which he finds himself to account, as it were, as he did that midnight occurrence on the terrace. He is right when he says: "The devil hath power...