Why Shakespeare? |
Sequel to the American Orator: Dialogues for Schools, the 1813 elocution guide from which these videos were filmed, also includes an introduction aimed at teachers and other adults. The text explains, among other topics, why Shakespeare was the author chosen for almost every speech that illustrates an emotion—or, as it was then called, a “passion.”
This explanation, written for a book published in Connecticut, offers an interesting look at Americans’ high opinion of Shakespeare by the early nineteenth century, even in the sometimes anti-theatrical states of New England:
The examples are, chiefly, from Shakespeare, who is said to have placed all the Passions in such marking points of view as enables us to see the workings of the human heart in his writings, in a clearer and more affecting way than in any other of the Poets; and perhaps, the best description that could be given us of the passions in any language, may be extracted from the epithets he has made use of....
The sand heaped by one flood is scattered by another, but the rock always continues in its place. The stream of time, which is continually washing away the dissoluble fabrics of other Poets, passes without injury by the adamant of Shakespeare...
The introduction also encourages teachers to allow overexcited students to make the most of the Shakespeare passages, even if they become too loud or boisterous.
A part of the following Dialogues are intended for Reading Lessons... and the rest are more particularly proper for quarterly exhibitions....
Many of the scenes in plays furnish speeches that require a full, animated presentation.... Though School boys ought not to be taught those nice touches that form the greatest difficulties in the profession of an actor, they should not be too much restrained from that exertion of voice... because they may sometimes be too loud and vociferous.... We should rather allow of an exuberance than, by too much correctness, check the vigor and luxuriancy of Nature.
Increase Cooke, Sequel to the American Orator, or Dialogues for Schools. New Haven, Connecticut, 1813. Folger Shakespeare Library.