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

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was current in the years of the Brotherhood. Scott and the
other critics who objected to the .vork of Godwin and v/ingfield
conceived of Shake pe"-:"• 's p'.'.aya in terms of a grand, idealised
aanner, sweeping and romantic in its pictorial effects*
Scott, as was noted in the prseeding chapter, admired Irving'c
Faust for the approximation of its scenes to Bore's "weird
fancy" and John Martin's "splendid daring and invention".
Irving's stage effects and his cli, r r>cteriaations were often
gloomy and melancholic, but Barrett had set the nlay in specific
and detailed surroundings, and played the part in a briskly
intelligent manner. Scott's dica, iroval of the graveyard act
appears, by its extreme reaction, to carry the w.dght of his
romantic prejudices.
There were few alterations to the text in the Icttar part
of the scene, and little business of any note. Hmalot uic not
invite Laertes to match him in fasting, drinking eisel, or
eating a crocodile, "Grants" - the Quarto re,