The Year's Contributions to Shakespearian Study 1 - Critical Studies

Summary

Setting aside bibliographical and biographical studies, which are treated in other parts of this section, and considering the year’s work on one side only, that of interpretative and philosophical criticism, it is possible to discern already certain tendencies which may prove to be characteristic of the post-war revaluation. It is dangerous to force this too far and doubly so in this year’s review, as, though there has been a relatively large output of books and articles, many have been extremely difficult to obtain and some impossible. With this caution in mind, we can attempt to indicate certain trends, naming in each instance a few volumes which seem representative. It is clear that many writers, even when engaged with some different topic, are turning back to the contemplation of Shakespeare as an artist and as a poet, believing that the essence of Shakespeare studies is the study of the poetic content of the plays; in one article at least this is proclaimed as a principle. Almost equally clear, and in close relation to this, is the increasing recognition now given again to certain forms of interpretation which had fallen out of repute as ‘old-fashioned’. Chief among them is the analysis and elucidation of character; this, coming back into its own in terms of modern experience, is no longer necessarily regarded as folly. Closely akin again to these two is the growing tendency to consider and appraise afresh the value of certain special advances made within the last quarter of a century, many of which are now strongly enough established for their character to be recognized and their relation to their background sketched.