Dramatic Censor or Critical Companion - Hardcover

Gentleman, F.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0576021105 ISBN 13: 9780576021104

Publisher: Gregg Publishing, 1969

Synopsis

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1770. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... .KING LEAR. A TRAGEDY. Altered from Shakefpeare, by Tate and Colman. X HE perfon who enters upon dramatic alteration, without being a flave to his original, mould nearly as poffible, confine himfelf to pruning luxuriances, correcting irregularity, rationalizing bombaft, and elucidating obfcurity; cautious of adding, unlefs where unavoidable gaps are made* and con'ne&ion confequently wanting; it is moft allowable that Shakespeare's King Lear very much wanted fuch affiftance as we have mentioned. Tate's opening of the play we apprehend preferable to that adopted by Colman; for the Baftard makes us much better, that is much more decently acquainted with his illegitimacy in the foliloquy fpoken by him, than Glofter's account; the antipathy he bears to Edgar as {landing before him, is alfo well intimated, and Lear's character is properly opened in the fhort following fcene between Glofter and Kent, wherein alfo the former expreffes ftrong refentment againft his fon Edgar, and warm attachment to Edmund, by whofe cunning his paffion is raifed. Where Lear divides his kingdom upon the childifk principle of afking which daughter loves him beft, Col King Lear. Colman has preferved that unjuftifiable, cynical roughnefs, which Shakespeare has flamped upon Cordelia, in the barren, churlifh anfwer fhe gives her father ; this Tate has confiderably foftened, by making her attachment to Edgar, the caufe of fuch reply : we think, however, that the whole affair might have been thrown into a much better light, by making the old monarch divide his kingdom on the marriage of his daughters, with thofeperfons he approved; Cordelia's refufing the perfon of his choice from a fecret inclination elfewhere, would have refcued him from the extreme folly now chargeable againft him, and the fuc...

Edition details

• Publisher: Gregg Publishing
• Publication date: 1969
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0576021105
• ISBN 13: 9780576021104
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 994