The Hokitika Guardian MONDAY, MAY 22nd, 1922. THE VALUE OF SHAKESPEARE.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 May 1922, Page 2

The Hokitika Guardian MONDAY, MAY 22nd, 1922. THE VALUE OF SHAKESPEARE.

Last week’s lecture bv Professor Shelley must him* opened the minds of 1 1 is hearers to tin* intrinsic worth of their Shakespeare. It is one thing to read hi* reiniirkulde works itt their fast value, and nnother tiling to react the classic in the ligliL of the fuller knowledge the lecturer afforded as to the times and conditions Under which they were written and performed. No doubt its a result of the inspirational address of tile gifted lecturer last week some more intimate atleiitioh will be paid to the works of tile great Englishman, not for pleasure and pastime alone hut for expansion of thought and wider knowledge and understanding. Apropos of this thomo, a Sydney paper lately referred to the value of the .subject for educational purposes and as the matter i.- so much in the public mind just now as a result of last week's memorable lecture, we reprint to-day the reference just now referred to. The comment is as follows: A celebrated English advocate once gave as the secret of his forensic tri’nmplis n paraphrase of Duntoil's famous exordium: “Hammer it in I Hammer it in again! Keep on hammering it in!” 11l this relation on<e more the question arises of bringing the works of Shakespeare to the public- and especially to the youthful public--of this country. Its importance can hardly be ovt'r-estilniited and some definite and comprehensive method of regularly presenting these wonts might well be evolved. If the plays of Xhakespeaie were properly ntul systematically fed to the minds of young Australia their interest ill. and affection for them would grow with what it fed on, like the appetite of the Queen of Denmark. The effect of that assimilation would he an impiovement both in character and learning that would he altogether admirable. Even the most prosaic or thoughless person can hardly regard a love for Shakespeare and a knowledge of his works as other than beneficial, although, .of course, as to the extent of that beneficieiice a gre-t variety of opinion may very well obtain. If, however, we take even the lowest estimate, the result is still allowed to be good; and on the principle that a good thing is worthy of encouragement it seems that the principal premise of our contention is admitted, and that, to lie consistent, the truth of the main argument, must follow as a corollary. Now. the l>est wav indeed, it seems the only proper way—to inculcate a love for Shakespeare in the young is to present the plays before them on the stage. The plays tveic written with the object of being staged, and much as they may appeal to tlu* student and the connoisseur of literature when read in the privacy of the chamber, there call be no doubt that they are very much more likely to appeal to those who stand without the cultured pale (which, after all, includes the great majority of the citizens •

this or any other country) if presented in their proper surroundings and with proper accessories of costume and of scene. And it is not only to the young or the illiterate that this applies. Both the grave and reverend signor of the study and the irreverent and irrepressible youth should he offered the opportunity and would benefit by the aeeeptanee of it.