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

the whole depth of the scene can be utilized.
A temporary platform for the players is erected
between a couple of trees v;ith a curtrin t'rcwn
across; and the whole scene, lighted up with
torches, which compete with a lovely aoonlight,
forms a picturesque court pr ;::ecuit. The King md
Queen r;it, not upon c throne, but ur>on a rustic
bench, as do also Ophelia and Hamlet.
Hamlet was thus "reliaved from the odious necessity of
grovelling upon his stomach" in order to cross the stage and
shout in Claudius's fr--.ce "He poisons him i'th 1 garden for's
estate" (255). Scott felt that Hamlet and Ophelia had been
placed too far upct: ge - the Prince retired into the background
"instead of sprawling on the floor" - but was -nleased
by the jtrange but not unwelcome contrast to the stereotyped
regularity of the celebrated picture by Maclice". Irving had
retained the traditional arrangement, with the King and Queen
to one cide, and Hamlet and Ophelia to the other of c snail
stage, ;-'.n