SHAKESPEARE FOR ALL

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 149, 27 June 1925, Page 17

SHAKESPEARE FOR ALL

"A Guide to the Study of Shakespeare's Plays." By Geoffrey H? Crump. London:. George Harrap and Co., ■ Ltd. : ,, . :.■':■ /://:,■- ---"We hated Shakespeare, and he stood for all that was/dull." /This is the candid confession of- the / author of this little vade niecum for 1 the ";- student* ■"taking" .the subject in college, for the member of the. reading'circiej and for. the mature reader who reads Shakespeare for love of his works. Mr. Crump is a ■l teacher, and it' is refreshing /to have from a member of his profession such plainness of speech on this i subject. As Shakespeare .is, often A taught 'in the schools, and as,his .plays are .read there —even in New' Zealand schools—tho subject, far. from being made attractive, is looked upon by the great majority ■ ofscholars as a,"disgusting'; necessity; and, like Latin and: French and some other subjects in sbhool and in the university college,:'.only, to be dropped once the Moloch of the/examination fis: propitiated. This is a shocking, waste of time,: .:;■•■ labour, and .money;, but the worst of it; :! ".■; is the loathing in the hearts of .the young . that occupies the place :of. lave, for the works of great- minds like those of Shakespeareand Moliere. v . Music is in much the <same case with many teachers'and : pupils, so that Bach becomes/ an abomination and; Beethoven; a<bore to many who may not be infant prodigies, yet ; can understand and .appreciate/the works' of both masters, if only reasonably pre- ;■.-■ sented, to them irrespective.of the glamour of the' certificate, or 'diploma. '■■;' /Mr.. Crump's::^'Guide," then> iis, ex;\ceedingly: welcome, and is. commended to - teachers. 'It contains a/i commendably '. ■ short summary .of: the;, life of -.Shake-1 .. Bpeare—covering -.'not? quite two.,pages. : "As: the plays r are; dealt .with/jnchrono-: /-.* logical order,, the' changes ■ and develop■- " merits in the .character,;of the .English dramatist become apparent as one reads on. Comparatively little /is.. known■'•'■ of //Shakespeare's-life;, and" the: study of his // works :■■ can give one ■ a. better/- idea/ of, -.- him than can ■ any .attempt/to,/, recorif struct the. story of his 'life from the-, few . ,; facts that are known.' Beginning with : '-■■■ '"A Midsummer -'Nights. Dream, 'V /Mr; y\ Crump traces! <:- the..-.: development ;i 'oi ■ Shakespeare's; genius through .its'different stages.' Thus.one learns, or realises,' .> for the. first: time :f that-"A/Comedy ofErrors" . is Shakespeare's: only cdmprete- ::/ ly7farcical play; "..that'.-/ ''Loves-Labour; - | Lost" ;,wasvtta;-:oily/:play/;the .-.''plot-, of ■'/'. which"■was;eptirely.originari;that-"Eich^ '•-.- ard in.", .marks: the /formation'of/the' ■:.'■• playwright's technique; /and a, -host of '„:'; other, little//enlightening ■"■'.faibts'- '.which / arouse, the".reader's 'interest; and stimulate his or her/desire/to*, know: more /of; / the masterpieces'.'/ The chapter; bn; "The "-'". Merchant: of- ,Venice" , is particularly ..;■-," good;-. Here 'Mv: Crump. ■Eays;:-j- /:'.*;.';-' .-,'.-,;... -.' : -As a rule Shakespeare's tragedies, 1 :-.-'. and the serious) parts .of -,his; comedies,; deal with th/e Jhenie of tTeachem but' / ■• in/this one: play/he/seems/to. have put' : aside /the^/theine/>vith/ ■ 'he■ "grew •■-;.- ;' so'(Obsessed,/'and: tp-haye": determinea- ..:■■' to..,write_ an; .absolutely/.happy:,play, / /;- a P^y.'i? ■wtich^ ino/rae';;v;'as'/treach-'' ._. .': ' eroas3/V'/; i; >.:j Shakespeare .'Wka'vper--' ■ .hapstjyin^to'imagine an/ideal?-com^ :.-."■ munity,. after/his./own"-heart/-" where :,everypne:.tTi'6ugHt:tfirst'r6fUH'e^>-gopd of- ; . . everyone.selse;;; ]li:;.isf the happkst':of Shakeapea-re's plays; ; //can viyelr .'."".' believe ;that.he/:loved .writing -it. It .... is J the/ happiest.. play, ,not ; simply ■.be-.' „ cause .there/is, no/treachery >in it/-''.'■.! ■':'■;' but because the -whole-atmosphere is one,of .liveliness .'and cheerfulness and ■-../.-■ hope v /./_:.//In/thif play:/there is' ■ : . positive active happiness". :">■;■ //;,:'';/■;; ■Lines; like-these help,: to./throw/much hght.on.a play.iwhich./tbiihany is chiefly ; known; throu^h::.;Pprtia's:;speech—"The / ; quality iof mercy is not strained"-—learnt; .'.. (and loathed) in school days.*, .Indeed; ; Shakespeare's : :plays are .• /.sometimes .:■ ruined, for. those/who; would;,have-"truly appreciated :f.hem;by^this stupid'methdd. :■ of teaching:/extracts, and .reading' from , abridged:additions.. ;Mr.'Crump;supplies': . ■. a; detailed >table of.: selections for read-. ! ing, and- a table of/"Classification'and Chronological',;Order ■ .-'oi- -Shakespeare's' /Plays,",.which ;should 'prove /useful■:-.'to ■ ; any -stucly'-igroup, and the/whole/book: is a most thorough and appreciative^vork; by one well qualified to write upon the subject. '. - ';'-• i'■•",' '-A'''-i:- :7'-.r-\ '- '■' :'.;/