Quincy High School - Goldenrod Yearbook (Quincy, MA)

Page 13 text:

TUB GOLDEN-ROD. JOHNSON BROS’ MARKET. A. A. LINSCOTT, JEWELER AND OPTICIAN. Provisions, Poultry, Produce. 139 HANCOCK STREET, QUINCY. First-class Repairing. HIGHEST QUALITY GOODS. THE LOWEST PRICE8. Eyes Examined and Watches Regulated Free of Charge. 1.369 HANCOCK STREET, QUINCY, MASS. Compliments of D. E. WADSWORTH fc CO. If you want the Best Ice for your family to use, both on your table and in the Ice Chest, use the CRYSTAL SPRING ICE. Look for the white wagon.. CRYSTAL SPRING ICE CO. CHARLES C. HEARN, - Pharmacist - 1295 HANCOCK STREET, - - - QUINCY. FRANK W. ODIORNE,

Page 12 text:

THE GOLDEN - ROD. LITERARY. POETICAL QUALITIES IN MACBETH AND LADY MACBETH. On first thought it seems inconsistent to look for anything but the blackest, most repugnant attributes in characters who are responsible, directly or indirectly, for at least six most cruel murders. But in Lady Macbeth and her Lord there is a dif- ferent strain, a poetical quality, which seem to lift their crimes to a level above that of mere brutality. Without this quality the mind would shrink with horror from the history of these crimes. Lady Macbeth’s character is perhaps nobler than her hus- band’s, but the two natures contain the same element and its working out in both cases is similar. Macbeth is superstitious and the introduction of the super- natural elements brings out the first glimpse of his inner self. The very appearance of the witches sets his imagination afire, and he conjures up limitless possibilities, more than he is able to bear alone. He seeks relief by sharing them with his wife. These weird tidings inspire in her an invocation to the “-------- spirits that tend on inort d thought.'’ She is fully conscious of the evil forces that work such havoc with man’s true nature. Her speech is the outcome of an appeal to the poetical side of her character. She meets her husband’s protests with euphu istic lauguage and arguments, for she fears that his nature “is too full of the milk of human kindness To catch the nearest way ” to the fulfilment of his desires. His mind shrinkingly receives and works upon the horrible suggestion, till he cries out in agony “ Is this a dagger which I see before me The handle toward my hand ? Come, let me clutch thee. I have thee not, and yet I see thee still Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible To feeling as to sight ? or art thou but A dagger of the mind, a false creation. Proceeding from the heat oppressed brain ? ” He also realizes the evil influences at work upon his destiny, and voices an appeal to nature for aid in the perilous moment. Lady Macbeth cannot murder Duncan. Macbeth must do the deed ; she says “ • • had he not resembled My father as he slept, I had done it.” Her iron will is shaken for a moment by the creeping in of filial love, reverence, sympathy. Her imagination leaps ahead and she anticipates the consequence of the crime when she says “ • • • it will make us mad. When the deed is done, Macbeth becomes a prey to fear. In his frenzy he pities himself. His thoughts are poetical from the very intensity of his suffering. “ Methought I heard a voice cry, Sleep no more ! Macbeth Toes murder sleep,'—the innocent sleep ; Sleep that knits up the ravell'd sleave of care, The death of each day's life, sore labour's bath. Halm of hurt minds, great nature's second course. Chief nourisher in life’s feast,— •■••••■ Still it cried 4 Sleep no more! ’ to all the house : 4 Glamis hath murder’d sleep ; and therefore Cawdor Shall sleep no more ; Macbeth shall sleep no more. ’ ’’ But when the crime is discovered, he is himself again. How literally he says “ • • • from this instant There's nothing serious in mortality; ” Then again how poetically he expresses his sorrow for the murder of Malcolm’s royal father, a sorrow that does not ring true. “ Confusion now hath made his masterpiece. Most sacrilegious murder hath broke ope The Lird's anointed temple, and stole thence The life o' the building.'’ 44 Had I bn', died an hour before this chance, I had lived a blessed time. As Macbeth the king, his mind is a prey to jealousy, hatred, fear of discovery. Again the poetical tone of speech expresses his emotions. Fate must “ champion him to the utterance.” For an instant he is envious of Duncan who “ sleeps well”—his mind is “full of scorpions”—he is himself one of “night’s black agents.” His wife also begins to feel the pangs of conscience. She realized what Macbeth is suffering when his disorded vision brings to him his murdered friends, she stifled agonies of re- morse for her husband’s sake. But he is unnerved, his words still poetical, express a mental condition of superstitious fear and degeneration. As before, intcusc suffering forces the vivid figures. He says 44----1 am in blood Stepped in so far that, should I wade no more, Hemming were as tedious as to go o’er. Superstitiously lie consults the witches and dares threaten them, for he has become as evil as they; his words are as weird and wild as their own. Years pass. Lady Macbeth’s life has been one long night of terror and remorse. Over and over again she lives those brie! scenes of crime. Her poor mind bears the burden of her hus- band’s as well as her own guilt. What agonies of suffering her speech betrays 1 Self-pity has changed to pathos when she says, 44 AH the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand.” Death is her only physician aud she hurries to end her misery. The tidings of his wife’s end inspire Macbeth’s callous mind to a philosophical reflection upon the brevity of life. He has no sympathy for her. The peculiar beauty of his poetical nature has worked itself out in pity for his own condition. He realizes his desolation. 441 have lived long enough: my way of life Is falling into the rear, the yellow leaf, And that which should accompany old age. As honour, love, obedience, troop’s of friends, I must not look to have; but, in their stead. Curses, not loud but deep, mouth-honour, breath, Which the poor heart would fain deny, and dare not.” His mind is diseased, his heart heavy, he is ready for the wages of his sin—Death. Thus the silver thread of a higher emotion runs through these tangled lives of crime, only to show in greater contrast the blackness of hearts overthrown by the subtle temptation of ambition. Macbeth and his wife would have lived noC 3 lives if the poetical qualities so closely woven into their characters, had been allowed to develop unchecked. Poetry does not lead to the depths of crime. M. H. T„ 1902.

Page 14 text:

THE GOLDEN-ROD. ESTABLISHED 1540. IVER JOHNSON SPORTING GOODS CO., SUCCESSORS TO JOHN P. LOVELL 7APMS CO. A anufacturers, importers, Wholesalers, Retailers Sporting Goods. 163 and 164 WASHINGTON STREET, BOSTON, A ASS., U. S. A. Cable Address, “Gundealcr.” Telephone, 126 Main. STEPHEN LANE EOLGER, Watches, Diamonds, Jewelry. Clubs and College Pins and Rings. | qQ BROADWAY, Gold and Silver Medals NEW YORK Fhe University of Maine, Compliments of... ORONO, MAINE. A public institution maintained by the State and the United States. Undergraduate courses; Classical, Latin- Scientific, Scientific; Chemical, Agricultural, Preparatory Medical; Civil, Mechanical, Electrical and Mining Engineer- ing ; Pharmacy, four and two year courses; Short and Special courses in Agriculture. WRIGHT DITSON. jt jfc ANNUAL TUITION, $30. Total Expenses very Low. School of Law, located in Bangor, maintains three Tuition, $6o per year; Diploma Tee only extra Por catalogue and circulars address GEORGE EMERY PELL