Reply to Levitt

Times Literary Supplement, October 6, 1995, p. 21

Sir, – In answer to John Levitt (Letters, September 29), I certainly agree that the 1596 Swan sketch depicts Shakespeare himself; indeed, I said so more than once (eg, “actors including the author”).  But I don’t agree that Rowe’s information that Shakespeare acted the Ghost in his own Hamlet is merely a retold tradition. It is surely vital evidence, which ought not to be devalued. It is also fully conformable with Nashe’s 1589 gibe: “if you intreat him faire in a frostie morning, he will afford you whole Hamlets, I should say handfuls of tragical speeches”. Shakespeare’s known acting career ended in 1603, before any recorded publication or performance of the familiar text of Hamlet; so these are further strong reasons for rejecting all the many modern fantasies about an early Hamlet which was supposedly by “Kyd” or else a “memorial reconstruction by actors”. Of course, it was always a Shakespeare play.

ERIC SAMS

32 Arundel Avenue,

Sanderstead, Surrey 

John Lewitt had written (September 29, 1995, p. 19):

Sir, – Let us assume that Eric Sams is right, and that the de Witt drawing of the Swan theatre does indeed show a performance of the closet scene in the early Hamlet.  Assume also that the tradition retold by Nicholas Rowe, that the top of Shakespeare’s performance “was the ghost in his own Hamlet”, is also to be trusted. It would follow that the small figure on the right of the drawing is in fact a picture of Shakespeare himself. Would Eric Sams agree?

JOHN LEVITT

2 Hartington Street, Leek

Staffordshire