Dramatic Criticism (Volume 1)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1899 Excerpt: ...one might judge otherwise; but this is a controversial play, a philippic in dialogue, and in order to do justice there should have been a right balance. All the weight of right and virtue is thrown into the Jewish scale--all the offal of intolerance and narrow-mindedness falls in that of the Christians. The result is obvious. The author must be charged with special pleading. If, on the contrary, in juxtaposition to those Christian Jews, and those unchristian Christians, Nordau had but placed one firm, wholesome, tolerant specimen of Gentile, who would have been, as it were, an intervener in the fierce conflict of the characters, the final impression would have been different. Now, the Jews will be dissatisfied, because their moral victory in this play has been made all too easy and unconvincing; and the Christian will protest, because his fellow-believers have been painted in the darkest colours. Again, as a play pure and simple, Dr. Kohn will scarcely be pronounced flawless. The denouement ends, but does-not solve the question; the composition is altogether artless; here and there an attempt at manoeuvring with several characters, but generally a string of dialogues, long-winded if mostly culminating in real drama. Yet if Nordau, the great and vigorous essayist, overpowers Nordau the dramatist, as is the case in all his plays, it would be unfair to deny to this remarkable work some vitality before the footlights-It is Ibsenish in its simplicity, if not so adroitly structured as Ibsen would have done it; and some of the qualities of the great Norwegian are not wanting. I mean to say, that although nearly every character is a born polemist, not an ordinary human creature of a distinct personality, every word they utter is worth listening to, ever...