Pictorial Shakespeare, 1880-1890 - eTheses Repository - University ...

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majority o, its contemporaries in expressing no regret at the
passing of the traditional cct iri^tj:
Lockc...lived in the age of the Restoration,
which, although little removed from Shakespeare
by length of time, knew less of iiio spirit thr.n
does the 19th century. The melodies and harmonics,
the instrumentation and the vocal writing do not
lack a certain rugged force, but they arc wanting
in those subtleties of workmanship and of emotion
which are the birthright of tiie modern composer.
Irvins, ever represented as an innovator, w&s now credited
with having brought I.Iacboth into the music-theatre of the
Romantics.
Although the scene might be excused on the grounds
suggested above, the arrangement of the text within it presents
consider.-ble problems. In Irving's version, as in Shakespeare's,
the apparitions are followed by the arrival of Lennox, and by
the usurper's busineso-like ^reparations for the murder of
iJacduff'c wife and children j the or fin 1 scene-ending is brisk -
But no more si.h-ts{ - Where are these gentlemen?
Gone, bring me where they rro.
This is retained in Irving's text, and followed by the transformation,
and the chorus "Come awry", which cm only appear
as r:n r,^?endage designed for the audience's ile.'sure. Such a
conclusion would seem to weaken the play and, unlike nost of
Irving's scene—endings, focus attention not upon the central
chprc-cter but upon the ;;cnorrl forces pt work in the drama.
Irving obviously enjoyed surgesting the presence of ouch
forces - as . itness the "Fate tree" - but they were for the
most part used in direct connection ..itli the civ -.meter he
.il-ycd, and not indulged for their own r'r,kc. In ^ocbcth tlio
forces seen "t work were time (in the cli n,~ing seasons nnd
hours) and i.u icrii. tural evil, but in this gig; r.tic tableau of
the fourth ^ct Macbcth mu:_t have seemed r.laoct insii^nificc.nt,
a figure included only to ;;hov; the ccale of the backer .^und, like
the u;;.fortun: to victins of the apocalypses painted by John
»: r.rtin.
After an interval, and the S1 c:ic r.iiiv picture of on
iiglish country lane'' ( 'lie Ern)in -.vliicli Hacduff's f-'icf wns a-con
came the sleepwalking scene. Lady li;...cbotli apporrs alone, . r,tc..ed