New-York tribune., 1873-05-23
HUMANITY IN HAMLET.
LECTURE ny GEORGE MACDONALD.

| LECTURERS FAREWELL TO AN AMERICAN AUDI
ENCE
To the many admirers of Shakespeare, who missed
the intellectual entertainment derived from Mr..
Wess's delineations Of Shakespearean characters,
the lecture of George Macdonald, at Association
Hall, last evening, was rare treat. To the few
who had been so fortunate as to hear tue formers
faithful explanation of the moods OF the melancholy
Dane. the lecture Of Mr.. Macdonald on " Hamlet
came like a refreshing shower, reviving familiar
thoughts and scenes, and permitting perhaps q
deeper insight into tho marvellous mind of
tbe noet-master and his mysterious temper
asserted so strikingly in this master work.
A number of prominent gentlemen took seats upon
the platform among them VIM Cullen Bryant, the
Rev. Dr. II. W. Bellows DR.. J. Z. Holland, George
II. Putnam. Judge Larremore, and others. The
leeturer was introduced by VIM. Cullen Bryant in
complimentary address, embodying the hope that
Mr. MacDonalds visit TO America would leave pleas
ant impressions upon his experience, and expressing
regret at his fast approaching departure for his
island home Mr. Macdonald in q few words thanked
him for his appreciation and began his lecture
TIE LECTURE.
have been a student OF Shakespeare, said be. for
many years. and need not say-at least 70 those who
have also been students Of him-that the more read
and the more think. the more find out He Is soil
in which you may hirrow and find endless roofs and
flowers that seem TO act OF themselves II Il IS half re-
liron TO be in q right position toward Deghbor
dare 10 say that there very few books that viii
enable the devout soul % be just and true to its neigh
bors more than the plays Of Shakespeare which arc
mighty lust because the received every form Of
humanity to his heart He never gave single form OF
human life the cold shoulder He drew
nigh; he seems even in regard 70 the low
est, as il were, 10 pat the shoes OF LIS feet
that be may come and what this new thing Is ana
having understood it he gives II from first to Gs lair
play aud that IL the hardest thing IN The world 10 Ve
fnd that his stories OF no value % him except as
they set forth truths Of human nature ind It Is
in the man-n the woman-that be IS interested in the
noblest because they noble IN the lowest because
there ia something human in them also hnd that nc
tells story 10 make you see the character IL
the play OF incident upon character modelling changing
developing destroying the character that Is interest
in TO the He the most terrible tale not
for the terror IN it, but TO show the nature and the
changes OF the human beings concerned therein.
But III the play which have % consider this even
ing the whole interest lies the character OF Hamlet,
and the whole burden Of all the muttudinOus criticism
that has been written upon the play the whole main
question is: what sort Of a mgn this Hamlet .
Can we understand him And the marvellous thing Is
that although few dare to that they thoroughly
understand this character yet the play is the most pop
ular of all ms plays Why Because when we do not
understand wo yet feel tat touch the man. We feel
that he is of kind. We are aware that he Is not
only a type Of tho human race, bat type OF tho
humanity in each individual that 1t Is the
play OF a something 70 US all that is there de-
picted We perceive a man in perplexity, and yet
PEELED to act and IN almost all his plays Shakespeare
constructs a which the play Is 70 be performed
a desert island a spring wood; matters not what,
something 10 suit the play
Here on the other hand, he gives Just the platform
tho stage-on which the play is acted. Yet in
fFa ,1afI I,I4f a UI fuIv
had almost said only, by his faith in God. have 20
Try 10 let you understand this the suppOsItion
that have found him out. No man can fan altogether
10 understand another man, II he loves him. must at
tempt 10 give you something like birt's-eye view OF
character, and this only be done by taking the
character analyucally revealed in the play shall
try TO alter the opinions 0f some and strengthen the
opinions Of others. believe, a friend Of mine
said II circumstances had been favorable to Hamlet he
would have been such character not even Shake
speare himself could have set forth Let try
understand the character Of Hamlet
First Of all would point 70 you that at 30 years
of age ne il sr at the University OF Wttenberg, Lu-
theirs city. His has been German education lie
shows pretty plainly that he is Optmist willing 20
believe and hope for the best OF and for all. When
he nears from ghost that his uncle the assassin Of
his father he takes out his tablets 70 set down some
thing he has far the reality Is concerned, dis
covered for the first time "a NAV smile, ana
smile and be q villain" I don't mean % say
that he had not heard or read this q hOusaud
times but now first It has come 10 Hamlet as a
clear absolute fact his existence But afraid To
be unjust though there il bitter feeling running !
so IN Denmark" II want 10 get peep a the cnar
acter Of any man, never have better chance tnan
when he speaks of a friend. We are uot sure o. tho
, - 81 'r,cter INT We ace what manner OF man he Ia
bimself ms friend HOrauO 10 watch the KING
with nun during the play; there else he can
trust n clear that the intention OF Shakespeare
il to present Of the nobest men that he can con-
turn 10 certain touches Of expression which show the
religious condition uf Hamlet IL would ne very ara
thing IN a play to saw much a subject OF that kind
Indeed hint dropped goes further tnan any ioreseeu
speech. You be- moro assured O me character Oh
man by a thing dropped by him than by anything ne
can mako up his mind % say. w play, where every
thing Is crystlizcd there s no more than room Ior
hints In Shakespeare there are hut5 dropped |
tlickly, which unsusprcied DY the common !
reader. They are sometimes III the most uheA !
pected places, in the names shakcspeare never
gives any notice when he has made point ~ !
We IT, he doesn't stop to tell US II would De
well for art n we coulG netcibdDie oi 'one lnius
have often been moved by the mere silence ol |
Shakespeare Let us ook at some OF these Ahts as 70
HauIeT6 religious cAdI@V a tu NeL5 ~ 5,s
the play the hrst sOlOquy that he speaks. we nnn
him i'm such of misery, that the thought OF suicide
lite across his MIND. ne dl,po'es 9l 2 !. az Vn M % %
not spoken Of again In the play. lie does IL Dy me only
argument against suicide Tor there Is Duf one an not
the least surprised that men Wh9 dre -Ot efth ~
be assured that there Is God IN tie World shOuld
advocate under certain circumstances the COMMITTING
OF suicide, or killing in any way Tie marvel !
70 me Is that men who ont believe or nope IN Goa
do MT ma ge haste kill themselves The sole argument
is that II there be God there - pIooaply az ea,t
thai he had good intent ~ making uh hdinleL sdJ >
"Oh! that his too, too solid hcrh Wouid melt Ihat IL
enough. There is no more about II IA the play. Inc |
play might called play OF COusciousness' men nc
accepts the challenge brought nm 10y OsIlc ne reels
strong uesentimru Of evil and ns REMARKS then snow
hat he has risen absolute confidence IA what the
old people used TO call special proyden9es ana 30 s9ng
is This ID hm that makes INN feel the dignity Of Lls
manhood. Is he 10 give up his purpose because ne
feels a misgiyiug Of tie endt The eOhmOn idea @ M on
Hamlet s that from cjnst tutOna or student habits le
either is or incapable OF action that ne mas
thinking ana Thinking ani mas 90 spent Tue eheE
uf re an fhouglt that he uas none LETT Tor VIII Jut
shall proceed you the neorrectness Of TINS view