CECIL BROWN
293
doesn 't have the inevitability of, the purity of line as
Othello
has, or
Macbeth.
I really couldn't tell you what
Hamlet
is about. They say
it's about indecision, the weakness of indecision, I've heard of that
before, that's no explanation. Maybe I've never read it properly or
seen it performed properly, maybe I'd get more out of it.
Int.:
The feeling I get–
Williams:
Is what?
Int.:
Is that it's a self-conscious, intellectual play.
Williams:
I don 't think the "To be or not to be" speech in
Hamlet
is as
great as the "tomorrow, tomorrow," speech from
Macbeth.
(Now
Tennessee throws his head back 'and begins to recite the ''Tomor–
row" speech in the most resonant, musical, deep cello-voice.)
Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day
To the last syllable of recorded time
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way
to
dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow; a poor player
That struts and frets his,hour upon the stage; and then is heard no
more;
It
is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury
Signifying nothing.
That's a greater soliloquy than any in
Hamlet,
I think. And then
to
put out the light! Put out the light! Isn 't that a great soliloquy?
Has it ever been settled who Shakespeare was?
Int.:
I tend to think that he was one person.
Williams:
I think he was Shakespeare. I think it's all a lot of bullshit
this question who he was.
Int.:
They say he was not very conscious of his genius in his works and
he seemed not to care about immortality.
Williams:
I think he cared a great deal about keeping his company
going, (hahaha), don't you? And writing the best he could for it;
sure, that was the question.
Int.:
He seems
to
have been very successful too, from all evidence.
Williams:
Was he successful? I don't suppose he was.
Int.:
Financially respectable.
Williams:
I don't think he was, was he? I don 't think he lived with
great luxury.
Int.:
He had enough money to buy a knighthood.
Williams:
Did he buy a knighthood?
Int. :
He bought one for his father.
