Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1860-07-07


young woman, so fascinated, and so easily over
come by the tale Of rupe, unbeached African
soldier
The great moral lesson Of the tragedy of
Othelio is, that black and white blood cannot be
intermingled in marriage without gross out
rage upon the law Of Nature and that, in such
a violation, Nature will vindicate her laws
The moral of Olhello is not to beware of jeal-
ousy, for his jealousy is well founded in the
character and conduct of his wife, though not
in the fact Of her in6dclity with Cassie. Des-
demona is false to the purity and delicacy of
her sex and condition when she married him;
and the last words spoken by her father on
parting from them, after he has forgiven her
and acquainted in the marriage, arc
"Iook to her. Moor; have a quick eye to see,
She has deceived her ather, and may thee"
And this very idea is that by which the crafty
villain lago works up into madness the Jealousy
of Otheo
"Whatever sympathy we feel for the suffer-
ings of DeSdemona flows from the consideration
that she is innocent of the particular crime i'm
puted to her, and that she is the victim of a
treacherous intrigucr. But while compassion
ating her melancholy fate, we cannot forget the
vice OF her character. Upon the stage, her
founding with Otheo is disgusting. Who, in
real life, would have her as his sister. daughter
husband, but she forfeits all the affection of her
father and all her own flial affection for him.
When the Duke proposes on the departure of
Othello for the war, that she should return
during his absence to her fathers house, the
father, the daughter and the husband all say
No" She prefers following Othello, to be be-
segcd by the Turks in the island of Cypres.
"The character of Desdemona is admirably
drawn and faithfully preserved throughout the
play. 1t is always deficient in delicacy. Her
conversation with Emilia indicates unsettled
principles even with regard to the obligations of
the nuptial tie, and she allows Iago, almost un-
rebuked, to banter with her very coarsely upon
woman. This character takes from us so much
of the sympathetic interest in her sufferings,
that when Othello smothers her in bed, the ter
ror and the pity subside Immediately into the
sentiments that she has her deserts.
ave feel similar want of interest in the
character and fortunes of Lear as represented
upon the stage The story of Lear, as those
Of Othello and Romeo and Juliet, was ready
made to the hand Of Shakespeare They were
not of his invention. King Lear and his three
daughters form part of the fabulous history
of England. The dotage of an absolute mon
arch may be a suitable subject to tragedy; and
Shakespeare has made a deep tragedy of it.
But, as exhibited upon the stage, it is turned
into comedy. Lear the dotard and the mad
man, is restored to his throne, and Cordtl liza
finishing with wedding. What can be more
absurd?
"Dotage and madness, in the person of
king possessed of the power to give away his
kingdom at his pleasure, afford melancholy con-
temptations of human nature. They are not
fit subjects for comedy. Lear is no more fit to
be restored to his kingdom than Christopher Sly
is to be metamorphosed into lord. Lear is a
dotard and madman from the first scene in the
play, and his insanity commences with such re-
volting injustice to his only afectionate daugh-
ter that we feel but little compassion for what
ever may afterward beiall him. The interesting
character cf the play is Cordelia; and what a
lovely treasure it is But the restoration Of a
dotard from old age to his senses, is as much
out of nature, as the restoration of his throne
is preposterous.
Lear. as Shakespeare painted him, is the wreck
of a mighty mind and proud spirit, sunk from
despotc power into dotage, and maddened by
the calamious consequences of his own imbe-
cility. His madness, with lucid flashes of in
tellect, is iucurable 1t is terrible it is piteous
But it is its effect on the fortunes of Cordelia,
that constitutes the chief interest of the spec
tator, and Lear himself, from his first appear
ance loses all title to cnmDassion"