III.—Shakespeare's First Principles of Art

Extract

Perhaps no part of Shakespeare has proved harder of interpretation and appreciation than the closet scene which ends Act III of Hamlet. Every reader, every spectator of the play has at some time felt regret, perhaps dismay, that so brilliant and capable a hero should, in such an unadvised and erratic way, reproach and revile his mother. It is a scene at no point pleasing, and in many points perplexing. And, particularly, what of the Ghost's reappearance ? We find it hard to believe, even dramatically, in the inconsequential return of the same vindictive, impassioned spirit that is made so much of at the opening of the play. “It is surely a subjective ghost,” says White. “It is not a subjective ghost,” says another; “but the audience does not see it.” “It is certainly not a subjective ghost,” says yet another; “everybody sees it but the Queen.” And so it goes. What did Shakespeare mean ?