The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-03-14
THE PSYCHOLOGY
OF SHAKESPEARE
Superintendent Howell Treats Macbeth
from q Philosophical Standpoint.
LECTURED TO THE TEACHERS
An Interesting and Scholarly Dis
course Heard at the High school
Saturday Morning - The Great
Tragedy Traced from scene to
Scene in It's Psychological Develop
ment- shakespeare Entertained the
Most Advanced Thought.


Howell delivered a lecture on Mac
beth" to the city teachers Saturday
morning, at the high school. Profess
sor Howell's Macbeth" lecture is
psychological treatise of the play and
the writer, and is a very interesting
and scholarly effort as will be well
believed by those who know of his lit.
erary ability, his deep research in the
fields of philosophy and his rare pow
ers of analysis.
After a brief discussion of the propo-
sition that you rob a picture or a play
of its spiritual power If you leave out
it's history and the national thought
that evolved it, he proceeded to argue
that Macbeth is only a camera that
photographs the life and thought of
certain epoch, that bordering on the
renaissance. Shakespeare Is always
faithful to the spirit of his time and
Macbeth is the product of a certain
historic period. 1t bears the indelible
stamp of the renaissance.
Shakespeare wrote his plays for the
stage, but it must be admitted also that
he wrote them for the human mind.
He recognizes all the laws of God that
are implanted in the human soul. Re
| ligion is essential to all social life and
Shakespeare does not ignore the fact.
Even the weird sisters have their
| Satanic rites and lturgies, and relig-
| ion whether human or Satanic must
| have a ritual as an organ of express
sion, and Shakespeare fitly employs
| the language and ritual of witchcraft
DEVELOPMENT OF TRAGEDY.
| n
this great tragedy can be easily traced
by the student from scene to scene
and act to act by natures seeming
kindness. The poet ushers in the great
tragedy just as sunlight yields to dark
ness. We are introduced to Macbeth
and Banquo on the barren heath in the
presence of deformed nature, when the
last lingering rays of the setting sun
foreshadow evil and twilight dulls the
senses. What time could be more fit
ting, what occasion could better sug-
gest and instigate crime.
"Good things of day begin to droop and
browse
While the nights black agents to their
| preys do rouse"
The very introduction of the play is
tragedy. The radiance of morn is
dying in the night.
"The tragedy of twilight and the setting
in of thick darkness upon human
soul"
Nature has assisted Shakespeare, but
nevertheless, his great creative genius
as an artist is apparent in every line
He constructs thought out of materia
at hand. In the past he always sees
the present. Macbeth has gained 6
victory and in this victory Macbeth
sees supremacy and the downfall o,
Duncan. Is he not at the head of thu
army greater than the king? Has HI
not suppressed insurrection, subdueC
the traitors of the king and chokeC
treason? But can power sugges
tyranny? Treason suggest treason
Yes, the civil war of the state is easily
transferred to the soul. And from thi'
very act of suppression, from this da!
on Macbeth is a traitor.
AMBITION OVERLEAPS ITSELF.
Like Caesar on the banks of tn
Rubicon he let's ambition overleal
, itself and fall on 'tother side
Flushed with victory and dazzle
by powers natural and supernatural
which prompt him to deeds o
violence how easy to accept the Gu
given in the rune of the witches. IS
fair and foul day I have not seen.
Shakespeare has written no psychol
, ogy, but where can you find primar
law of suggestion so deeply and indel
IDLY written in human character
Treason, the worst crime against Co
, or man, has suggested treason. 1t i
an old saying, nations which conque
} are themselves conquered in victory.
The second great crisis in the caree
/, of Macbeth is the murder, the KILN
of the king, The augurers foretold tn
: assassination of Caesar, but with poo
: Duncan there was no "Ides of March.
t Guarded by the sacred laws of hos
: pitality he enters the home of Mac
beth. So pleasant are the environ
O ments that we are inclined to thin
: that nature is an abettor and accom-
0 plice in the crime.
, "This castle hath a pleasant seat; the al
Nimbly and swcetly recommends itself
q Unto our gentle senses"
n There is nothing whatever in thes
: words of Duncan as he pauses at tn
q castle gate, that would suggest crim