OCCULTISM IN SHAKESPEARE PLAYS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 302, 15 September 1921, Page 8

OCCULTISM IN SHAKESPEARE PLAYS

Last night Mr. Vivian H. R. Deacon delivered an interesting lecture on ‘'‘The Occultism of the Shakespeare Plays/* He pointed’out that a consideration of the occult teaching found in the plays need not involve the question of their authorship. It did. not x makter whether Shakespeare or Bacon wrote them, the main thing was we had them, and whoever the author was he must .have been a profound student.rof occultism, os it simply permeated all his plays. In fact, ho “holds the minor up tb Nature” in such a way that only the wilfully blind could fail io see a complete picture not only of this mundane plane; but of the spirit world. In four of his most popular tragedies the return of the dead was introduced. Clairvoyance, magic, pre-vision, dreams, adeptship, all • were mentioned in 1 the plays, and in such a way as showed the author's conception to be in absolute accord with modern psychic investigation. Indeed, from the solemn tragedies of Hamlet and Macbeth to the rollicking comedy of “A Midsummer Night's Djarm,” his stage was peoplefl with denizens of both.’ worlds. If the latest photographs shown by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle were genuine. then even the fairies of Shakespeare's plays .wore based upon occult fact. Materialists were, fond of quoting the saving-of Hamlet that “death is that bourne, from whence no traveller returns.” sis showing Shakespeare was a sceptic, but why, asked the lecturer, I should’that be so when the whole superstructure of the play was luised on the' idea that the dead'king did return and speak to his son? Why should Hamlot’s ideas bo held to reflect Shakespeare’s personal opinion more than Othello, or lago, Richard, or even Caliban? Evidently, the ghost in Hamlet was introduced for a very definite reason. It could have very easily have been done away with without spoiling flje play, for Hamlet could have been made aware of the mode of his father’s death by ‘some servant:. Shakespeare, said Mr. Deacon, (leliberatcly introduced the ghost, because ho wished to convey the idea of possible contactewitih the spiritual world. Mr. Deacon dealt in detail with “Macbeth.” “Richard flic Third,” and “Julius Caesar,” showing how occultism was an essential part, of each. At the close of the lecture he was accorded a vote of thanks, which wM carried with acclamation.