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St. Du_r_i_etaIn’s

(Continued from page 5) at glory to tho Emtplre. yet they

not hesitate when they thought we" Wbepfy was at stake; the price. however great, had to be paid. and Caesar was assassinated ‘lho peo- vh of ‘England. after centuries of m-ugglo for a greater measure of modem. finally succeeded in forcing gm; John to sign the hiagna Churta. my tiie Ghosts GOIIIIIIHILJ to avenge tho foundation of the Brill-sh constitu- tion as it is today. And having once med freedom they have guarded it yztilously ever since in the iface of the greatest dbstacles. Charles the First tried to depwlve them oi‘ some oi that pberty, but the British people, al- though they have always had a great respect for the ‘pcnsons oi their sove- yglgn, saw that there was no other qneallli by which ‘they could safeguard their liberty, and Charles paid tho price of tyranny on the (block. thus (he peoplo of Great‘ Britain have suic- guarticd their liberty against every tyrant down through the ages. with the result. that today British liberty seems to be ‘the ideal sought for by me peotples of all other nations. England is not the only country in which this struggle for freedom has existed. for history attests to the ‘fuct that, in nearly cvory country there have been struggles between the peo- ple and despotic rulers who tried to limit their subjects’ liberty. This ac- tion on the ipart of the ‘people is indeed pruisowortliy. for it ‘shows that they value that- great gift which God has to generously bestowed upon them. lint, while we should do all in our power to protect our liberty against tyrants. we should on‘ the other hand guard against those who use that word to tfllfih9l” their own selfish end. as well as against those who under the guise of lilberty are advocating nothing more than license. These men know that there is nothing that will arouse amtan to act on more quickly than to tell him that his lib- city is unjustly limited, and so they oftentimes use this knowledge to gain power themselves. and when they get control. rule not for the good of rho rcople (but for their own interests. We have many examples of this in his- tory. Lot us turn again to the time oi Caesar. ~Brutus and Cassius ‘per- suaded the Roman citizens that Caesar was going to restrict. their liberty. and what was their motive Was it to safeguard ths liberty; of the Ilo- mans? By no means. rather was it because they wished to gain control i of the govern-meat. and ‘thus further (heir own selfish interests. The same ' (hing happened when Charles the First was executed. Cromwveii was the man who advocated his death. But what did Cromwell do when he took control of (the goverruncnt? One would naturally suppose that 11., would remove ‘the abuses that existed tin-ring the reign of Charles. but we find that instead of giving the people a greater ‘measure of liberty, he took away nearly all that. they had already possessed. And history shows him to have been one of the greatest ty- rants that have ever ruled the Eng- lish IDCODIO.

Nor are we tiibliged to study ancient history to find examples til-people who have ‘been led astray (by false concep- tions of liberty. for wo have an ox- ccllent example of this in our owu time. A few years ago. the people of Russia. groaning under the burdens llilliosed upon them by the Czar and "W illilier classes decided 1w over- throw the existing government and set W) in its (place one in which the people would have complete control. The caiichwords. Liberty. Fraternity. and Equality, so often abused. were used to cntch the unwary. with the result

Royal faintly. . These men instituted in iliussia a form of government ‘known as Bolshovism, in which the licopie were supposed to enjoy aibsol- nto freedom. ‘but. which is in reality the most lbaribarfc and despotic (form of government of ‘modern tinrss. The; pretend to give tho people religious liberty. but. they forbid the teaching of religion to the children ‘before they reach a certain age. They overlook

zcns are the most religious, for the very ‘fact that they keep the laws of (iotl prevents them from breaking the laws of their country: and how are (host,- people to know their religion of they are not ‘taught it. iu their youth. when impressions are ‘most. "Wily made on their minds? We may well natit-te to question what chance these children have of ibocoming vlr-tu- ous men and women when they are rurrnunded by such an athcistio M.- "W-‘llihere. and what. will (become oi a country which is retiring such a gen- eration of citizens.

We have .onsidcred some otf the "Hilly rvhases of liberty. We have seen what: true liberty is; what a “MB-fling it is to mankind. and how nitich man will do to safeguard it. We have also considered some false conceptions of liiberty and the disas- trous effects that result from them. And when we, as Canadians. behold (he havoc wrought in other lands as a restilt oi these false ideas. we must Bilfcly be unloved to a greater love for 0th‘ country. a country in which essen- tial liberty is guaranteed to all.

"And l have thong-ht oi other lands. whose storms

Arc summe flaws to mine. and lust Have wished rme there-tho thoflBhf

that mine was free 418s checked ‘that wish; and I have

of deal

1i‘- comm-amt nnr-iron

that ‘Lcuine and Trotsky replaced tho ‘

the fact. that the most iaw-albiding citi- ~-

raised my head Andirriod in ihralidom to that furious n

w d. v ‘Blow onlmThis is the land of lib. crtyf" nin ..;..T.in"'66s¥snT-tire SUICIDE?

Srctlztl Prize Essay, written by l). U hoary.

_In Ylfllllldfs famous soliloqtty be- nrniuig with the words. "to he, or not to be". the inuny readers and admirers of Shakespeare ncem to find room for great dwcrsiiy oi‘ opinion. 'I‘hese dif- fort-n: imiy b“. divided into two main theori s; ilie one. that Hamlet was de- bating the question of self-destruction; and the other. tint. he was deliberating on the point whether to avenge im- rncdia-tcly the murder of his father. For (‘he Silk‘) of convenience I will refer to the flrsi. no the Suicide Theory. and the latter as. the Vengeance Theory. I may add that of into years the latter assumption ins bctzonie tlic more popu- larly accepted one. though. for one rea- son or another. the Suicide Theory still flntlz. many cxponvnts amongst Shakes- peare's numerous disciples. It. is inter- cstlng in note the relative merits oi thus". two doctrines. and this may be done by a brief consideration of the cir- cumstances of the play at the time oi the ooliioquy. the character of Hamlet as evidenced by his condtict in other sittiatlons. and the adaption of each igpfithcsis to the words of the soliloquy

c . .

Let. us first. recall the position in which Hamlet. was placed at the time of his soliloqtiy. It. will be remembered that he felt in conscience bound to his murder. Vengeance for the mur- der oi a friend or relative was an old Danish custom which amounted almost top law, and. though Hamlet exhibits many Christian-like traits, the wrong in this particular instance did not pre- sent itself to him. In Act I. sc. 5. when the Ghost first mentioned murder, Hamlet, imbued only with thought and desire oi revenge. cried out :-

"Haste me to know it. that I with wings as swift As meditation. or the thought of

ve May sweep to my revenge."

Yet, for all his eagerness. the act has not yet been committed. I-Ie hesitates for want of further proof. If lie could only be sure of the veracity of the Messenger! As he. himself. says: “The Spirit I have seen may be the devil " which "abuses me to damn me." In order. then, to assure him- self of the truth of the Ghosts mes- sage. he has flnaliy devised a scheme whereby he hopes to cause King Claud- ius, his uncle. to betray himself. He has written a part ior a play which is to be enacted before Claudius that evening. and in this he has represented the story of the murder as related to him by the Ghost. He intends to watch the effect. that this sudden portrayal of the murder scene will have upon his uncle. If the King has a clear con‘- science. no effect will follow; but if. on the other hand. Claudius I5 the mur- dercr. then. unless he is a consummate villain. he will be unable to conceal en- tirely his emotions. By this device Hamlet hopes to "catch the conscience of the King." His plan being perfected and about to be put into execution, it is most unlikely to suppose that Harn- let. considering his great desire for vengeance. would now turn his mind to thoughts of self-destruction; in fact, it. would appear that the thought of suicide was one of the farthest from his mind.

In the second scene of the play Ham- let. recognizing the vile character of his uncle. mourned over the shame- lessriess of his mother which had caus- ed her to marry Claudius, less than a month after the death of her own vir- tuous husband. His faith in his mother deserted hini——and with it his faith in all women. He saw her now in her true character, and he despised her. He detested his uncle for the vile- ness he saw in him. and his hate was further increased by the knowledge that it was this very man who was the cause of his mothers disgraceful act. His father, whom lie had so dearly loved, was dead; his mother. to whom he would now naturally open the flood- gates of his love. had by her action lost. all place in his affections; his uncle. base and mean. whom he despised. had replaced his own noble and virtuous father, and had usurped the throne which should have descended to him; he felt downcast and loiicly~~life no longer held any attractions for him. His very desire to live then deserted him. and for a fleeting moment the thought of suicide DID enter his mind :

"0. that this too solid flesh would melt, Thaw and resolve itself into a cw l Or that the Everlasting had iioi. flx'd Hts canon 'gainst self-slaughter."

Even in that moment. when ell the world seems to have abandoned him. he is deterred from this act of self- destruction by the Christianity of his morals, which some claim. are far in advance of.’ his day. but which never- theless exhibit hemselves throughout the play as an essential part of his character; and in consequence of this he quickly brushes the temptation aside. If Hamlet refused to dwell on the notion of suicide when his t. were such as might drive a man of weaker morals to the commission of this ignoble act, is it. not inconsistent to suppose that now. having received an incentive to live from the Ghosts message. he would again turn to ser- ious consideration oi this question l

There are those who advance as an

Re-roof with

BIRD’S

Asphalt Twin Shingles!

‘lhefiiiiubetllobwiiilanrrhro a» and

the years. a good- roof, free

rulluiir and repainting outs. Auk your mfer or

nudes-HG uv-‘a

.§§§§§§§§§‘i.=r.-.~:;._.n==\ l PIAIDON. LIQTID. Charlottetown. I Mq LITID) Charlottetown.-

ubjectionto the rui statement tho fact that Hamlet was a dreamer. a noble-scaled dreamer and a student; and the thought of the revenge impos- ed upon him by the Ghost was so re- pugnant to his finer sensibilities. ihat his own death was preferable to the distasteful act of murdering his uncle. They will not. admit that vengeance in his case is nn incentive to live. '1"iey would have Hamlet a man who is afraid of action; a flower-like child, born he live only in the realm of thought; a coward who would have recourse tosui- cido. rather than boldly do his duty as he sccs it. 'I'o these I answer simply ; was the Hamlet who swore vengeance on the murderer of his father. a man of this type 7 Was the Hamlet who. when restrained by Bernardo and Hor- atio from following the Ghost, cried out: "Unhand me. gentlemen. by Hea- ven. I'll make a ghost of him that. lets me.“ a physical coward ‘l

Was the Hamlet. who stabs Polonitis. or the Hamlet who sends without any t. mpunctlon his two school-fellows. Rloscnciuntz and Guildenstern. to their death. a man who was troubled and deterred from action by serupies i’ Or flnaliy, was the Hamlet who stabs the King and forces down his throat the remains of the poisoned wine. a man whose conscience would cause hin". to shrink from action ‘l These and other examples may he cited in show that Hamlet wished only to he certain: he did not shirk action which when he saw" his way. neither did he confine ill‘; deeds solely to thought.

Apart from these circumstances, let us now consider whether the Vengeance Theory is consistent with the soliloquy itself. We find Hamlet debating the question whether or not to commit the deed-do avenge his father's death by taking the life of Claudius. He reaiiz» ed that such an act on his part would result inevitably in his own death. As yet. lic had no definite proof of his uncle's guilt. The story of the Ghost would not be believed-he had naught. wherewitli to support it, and in all pro- bability it. would be attributed to the mad fantasy insane state. He would be considered a. dangerous lunatic. and deprived of his life as an ordinary regi-

4 deeper than the surface.

clde. Two alternatives present them- selves to ‘him. and he questions :

"Whether ‘tls nobler in the mind to suffer

The stings and arrows of out- rageous foi'tuiie.

0i‘ to take arms against a sea of troubles

And by opposing end them."

With regard to these lines. if I may be permitted a short digression. the up- holders of the Suicide Theory maintalii that Hamlet, who had not the courage to commit the deed, was debating whe- ther to live on under the burden of his troubles. or to end them by taking his own life. The very words themselves contradict such an assumption. Com- mitting stiiclde would not be “taking arms against a sea of troubles." nor “opposing" them; it would be". rather} succumbing to them. ‘

0f the two alternatives thus present- ved to his mind. Hamlet immediately re- jects the former as unworthy. and his thoughts turn to the death which must. be his consequent to the murder of the King.

“To die: to sleep; No more; and by a sleep to say

we end

The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks

That flesh is heir to, ‘tls a con- summation

Devoutiy to be wished."

He thinks of death first as a relief from the sorrow and anguish that. are eating into his soul; the one caused by the death of his so dearly loved father. the other occasioned by the incon- stancy and of‘ inelessness of his mother. Death l a sweet refuge from the trials and afflictions of this life." a consum- mation devoutly to be wished." His inherent Christian principles. however, reassert themselves. and he discards the thought of physical relief to reflect on the state of his immortal soul after its release from its bondage of the flesh; ‘

"For in that sleep of death what dreams may come.

When we have shuffled off this mortal coil.

Must give pause."

Considering the question from this new angle. Hamlet begins to generalize on the fear of the unknown. which “makes us rather bear those ills we have than fly (.0 others we know not of." If it were not. fiir the "dread of something after death." any man would gladly take his own life. preferring death to the cruel and harsh treat- ment of this world. Hamlet realized that in his own case he did not. want to die. Although death to him would have afforded a welcome relief from his sufferings. his desire to live was still stronger. This unwillingness to die was prompted. not only by a fear of the After-life. although this same apprehension played an important part in it. since, it will be remembered, Hamlet was yet doubtful regarding the integrity of the Ghost; but also by his desire to obtain the throne so un- justly usurped by Claudius, his uncle. What benefit would be his. if in mur- dering Claudius he lose also his own life 2' Torn between these conflicting emotions. his desire to live. and his obligation to revenge the murder of his father. which would mean his cer- tain death; and further tormented by his unwillingness to kill an innocent man. should Claudius prove such, Ham- let sums up the state of his mind in the following words :

"Thus conscience does make cow- ards of us all. And thus the native hue of resol-

ution fs slclrled o'er with pale casts of A thought. And enterprises of great pith and

moment

With this regard their currents turn away.

And lose the name of action."

This, in fine. is the cause of his de- lay. Consciousness or reflection have caused him to defer the deed until he can obtain some definite proof. con- vincing to the people u well as to himself. and his first eager dealre to kill Claudius has been put aside until such proof is forthcoming. Here the entrance of Ophelia‘ breaks off his meditation. ,and he is left with the question still unsettled in his mind.

A brief review of the conclusions we have drawn from this short sketch. should new be sufllcienf to show as the relative merits of time two theories. Regarding the Suicide Theory. we have seen that. Hamlet has less reason for his wishing to destroy himself than he

had before the appearance of the ‘ Ghost; we have seen that. he is not the

. which life held in store for

‘ ‘us who are the principle actor-s in this

coward the exponents oi this theory would make him. —~ not u man who would seek refuge from trouble in the despicable act of self-destruction; and finally, considering the words them- selves, we have seen that "to take arms against a sea of troubles" is an idea altogether alien to even the widest con- ception of suicide. On the other hand. the Vengeance Theory conforms to the circumstances in which Hamlet is pin-.- ed. to his character as seen from other 1 parts of the play. and to the words of the soliloquy itself. In the face of such evidence it would appear that the latter ls the more probable and the more ac- ceptable theory.

Lastly, thequestion arises: is the is- sue of this point of any special im- portance ‘l Un the surface it may ap- pear not. but its real significance lies On it de- pends w a great extent our conception of Hamlet's character. I say this b2- causc many of the commentaries on Shakespeare that incline to the Suicide Theory. draw important conclusions rc- garding his character from this very soiiloquy. On the contrary. the expon- ents of the Vengeance Theory consider the character of Hamlet. as evidenced in other parts of, the play. and apply it to the ooliloquy. The difference is manifest; the former starting on a wrong premise. from a particular in- stance draw a. general conclusion; the latter deduce the state of Hamlet's mind in this individual instance from their knowledge of him gleaned ironi other situations in the play. From the former incorrect method of reasoning. has resulted the wrong idea that Ham- let is a weak character. an irien which. fortunately. of late years ltas come Lo be ilircarrled by the majority of Shakes- peare readers. Thcsc have accepted the more logical conclusion that Hamlet hesitated to act, not from lack of cour- age. but from want. of proof to sub- stantiate his action in his own cyca. and in the eyes oi men.

O VALE DIP/TORY

fiend by George A. Mactiounld at the (‘oimnonccnrcnt Exercises on May 29th. 1927.

it is ‘many years since the first graduates of St. Dunstan's left the shelter of her walls to seek fauie in a busy world, and to make a name for themselves in their chosen ceilings Each year has ‘seen a new group bid adieu to their Alma Mater and go forth to wrestle with the difficulties them. Many of these are now iimost forgot- ten-many especially vhose deeds are not writ large in .hc pages ‘of our annals. for it is Lumen nature to re- member those fnv only whose deeds have influenced the world.

Asvli has been in the ‘past so it will be in the future. We, the class or '28, will in a few short years ‘be al- most lforgotten. New Students wit] occupy the minds of’ those who follow us. The (future is theirs. but today is ours. Today will ibe remembered by

short scene-‘of life's drama. and just

rrrr..qseaa<zirsr<>wsstresses

as today rings to the minds of former graduates memories of their gradu- ation. so.’ in future willotber gradua- tion days recall t) us pleasant mom- ories of our own. Should it not be so? l_‘_s not this the day for which we labored and studied during fhe past six years? Have; we not longed for this day when we could realize our amibitions and _set out to wrest from the world the treasures she so jealous- ly guards? Those anibitions are now realized, but with the Joy .of realiza- tion comes the ‘bitterness of separat- ion. We. who ior the past six years have studied and played together, who have worked side Iby side and felt the bounds of friendship tighten round us. soon must part. We have ibecome liiik- ed by that chain ofnirntuai affection which, we trust. will bind us closed iu the coating years. That chain we have forged with willing hands; each link we have wrought and tested in the years we have ‘been together, and we know it will not ibe broken but rather strengthened by ‘the passagel of time. We feel that we have friends on whom we may rely-those friends oi‘ college days; for friendships form- cd in youth are lasting. they sound ille depths of our finer emotions and ring out what is ibest in ‘us.