ユリシーズの秩序論

Abstract

Ulysses' speech on " degree " has too often been quoted, irrespective of its proper setting, as expressing Shakespeare's definite views on the matter. It is time now to put it back in its own dramatic context. It will be clear, then, that far from being an independent statement it is subordinate to the accusation that Ulysses proceeds to bring against Achilles' inaction. Moreover, the nobility of thought expressed in the speech makes a striking contrast to the baseness of the tricks Ulysses resorts to in order to goad Achilles. To make matters worse, the tricks prove utterly ineffective. What is to be noted, therefore, is the inconsistency of Ulysses' thought with his own action. The same kind of inconsistency will also be found in the case of Hector, Ulysses' counterpart on the Trojan side, and, of course, Troilus, the hero of this play. So it may be concluded that in this play Shakespeare tried to present in dramatic form the contradictory, frustrating side of human life, without intending any comment upon it. He left everything as he found it. That makes this play a failure in the eyes of some critics. I am not sure whether it is a failure or not, but one thing is certain: a detached and disengaged attitude as shown in this play of Shakespeare's was at least an indispensable experiment for his later and greater achievements.