New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-11-02
MIR. TANDENHOFF on MACBETH

snAKEsPEAREs HERO NOT MERELY A SOLDIER AND
RUDE IN BEARING-THE KING A CULTURED MAN,
CoURrLY IN SPEECH AND IN HIS TREATMENT OF
HIS SUBJECTS - THE TEXT OF THE TRAGEDY
QUOTED.
70 the Editor OF TIE Tribune.
SIR: read with great pleasure in your issue
OF this morning extended and elaborate notice Of the
play OF Macbeth" as performed present at Booth IS
Theater. am far from desiring to take exceptions to
the criticism therein passed upon myself but you will
perhaps allow me TO notice two or three points in which
think the objection made TO my method Of playing the
character of Macbeth not warranted by the
Of Shakespeare himself The first Is that my manner
. TOO much marked by coary refinement 20 suit sucn
rude soldier as the Thaue of CLAIMS aud Cswdor Now
,s not foy an acor 20 consider what Macbeth rea
was or might have beeD In p0llteness or madhe In the
eleventh century he probably was rude and bluff enough
Blu, the point essential to me Is uhat has Shakespeare
made him in his hItf He has really made him very
courty person, of poetic mind and of consider
able culture As TO the ceremonial aud formal polite
mess of his manner let instance three examples In
the very frat scene ia which he appears. When
Macduf and Lenox announce to him that the King has
rewarded bus valor by creating him Thane OF CawdoT,
and that they deputed the messengers to inform
him Of the honor. he replies:
CLAIMS and Thene Of CIwdor
Tne greatest is behind Thanks for your pains.
Aud again, immediately after
Two truths are told
As happy proogues to the swelling act
OF the Imperial theme. thank you, gentlemen
Thus he twice pontedy aud cautiously thanks
TO them for trouble they have taken IN coming to
him. on part OF the King Immediately after. before
going ont with them, he pays them this elegantly
yorded compliment, full OF courtesy and high breed
tng:
Where every day turn the lear 10 read them.
Meaning OF course. in his heart. Could any modern
ponteness surpass that He keeps register, IN his
ksari Of their kindness ana every day refresAes he
memory Of H.
Note also that this rude chefain addresses his
wife except In of the tenderes endearment "My
dearest love is his first word to her. "dear wife
and dearest chuck" he calls her afterwards; and the
news of her death In the 9Th draws from him Of
the saddest AID most beautiful passages in the play
"sne should have died hereafter" &c.
Mark too his elegant courtesy to his guests at the
banquet he leaves his chair Of state 70 mingle
with bIs guests
Oursef will miDele with society
AND play the humble host.
Surely this Is the language OF refined politeness
Then read his description of the character Of BanQuo
which 10 omitted In the acting edition OF the play.
which have always medic my prsctice 70 restore and
speak: Our fears IN BaDquo stick ldeep and In his
royalty Of natureroagns that which would DO feared
&C.; ending with:
Whose being DO fear. and under hun
Nv genius 10 rebukcd, - it 10 ssid
Marx Aotony's wa by C1ssr's
30 you see the rude and bla6 warrior chief was con-
misunderstanding to shsksspesres text-with Roman
HISTORY, - given by Plutarch.
Am not justified then in playing Macbeth-Shsks-
spssres Mscbetb not the Macbeth Of historyss fcu-
al shssfsais Of sosrtsow sssE1ss polite ssssrs end