Books to Consult—W. J. Rolfe: Venus and Adonis, and Other Poems. Sidney Lee: introductions to the several poems. Israel Gollanez: Shakespeare's Sonnets. Edward Dowden: Shakespeare's Sonnets. Parke Godwin: New Study of the Sonnets of Shakespeare.
The most interesting problem about the sonnets is whether or not they are a revelation of Shakespeare's own experience and views of life, or are wholly imaginative. On this point read from Wordsworth, Scorn Not the Sonnet, and Browning's House, in which the two poets take opposite views. For a full and most interesting discussion see Dowden's essay.
VIII—THE WOMEN OF SHAKESPEARE
1. Introductory—Variety of characters and pronounced individuality. Different types represented. Not peculiar to his age, but timeless.
2. The Women of Intellect—Portia: the woman of wisdom and learning. Is she Shakespeare's highest female type? Beatrice: the fine lady, of wit and high spirits. Readings—Portia: the casket scene and the court scene from the Merchant of Venice. Beatrice: first and last scenes from Much Ado.
3. The Women of Sentiment—Juliet: woman of the South; romantic and intense. Desdemona; woman of the North; modest, tender, self-restrained. Readings—Juliet: Act iii., Scenes 2 and 5, of Romeo and Juliet. Desdemona: Act iv., Scene 2, of Othello.
4. The Women of Imagination—Perdita: simplicity, dignity, and sweetness. Miranda: ethereal, unsophisticated, and ideal. Readings—Perdita: Act iv., Scene 4 (the shepherd's cottage), of the Winter's Tale. Miranda: Act i., Scene 2 (the island), of the Tempest.
5. The Women of History—Lady Macbeth: power of intellect, determination, devotion to her husband's career. Princess Katharine: charming and coquettish. Readings—Lady Macbeth: Act i., Scene 8, from Macbeth. Katharine: Act v., Scene 2 (beginning "Fair Katharine"), from Henry V.
6. Women of Various Types—Illustrative readings from As You Like It (Rosalind), Hamlet (Ophelia), King Lear (Cordelia), Taming of the Shrew (Katharine).
Books to Consult—E. Dowden: Transcripts and Studies. L. Lewes: Women of Shakespeare. Mrs. A. B. Jameson: Characteristics of Women. Wingate: Shakespeare's Heroines on the Stage.