 | University of Wisconsin - Literature - 1923 - 594 pages
...and some happy characters, though not new, nor produced by any deep knowledge of human nature. . . . I cannot reconcile my heart to Bertram; a man noble...falsehood, and is dismissed to happiness The story is copied from a novel of Boccace, which may be read in Shakespear Illustrated, with remarks not more... | |
 | Joseph Crosby - Book collectors - 1986 - 368 pages
...like it as I do most of them. I agree with old Dr Johnson, that Bertram is a despicable character; "a man noble without generosity, and young without...himself by falsehood, and is dismissed to happiness." What a sturdy old moraler Johnson was; and how pointed & yet true his words mostly are!— As a proof... | |
 | Joseph Allen Bryant - Literary Criticism - 1986 - 300 pages
...reconcile my heart to Bertram; a man noble without generosity, and young without truth; who marries Helena as a coward, and leaves her as a profligate: when...defends himself by falsehood, and is dismissed to happiness."10 In most romantic comedies the young lovers are relatively blameless figures and, in any... | |
 | Marianne Novy - Drama - 1990 - 276 pages
...this clearly / I'll love her dearly, ever, ever dearly" (5.3.308-9).35 Dr. Johnson was unforgiving: "I cannot reconcile my heart to Bertram; a man noble...himself by falsehood, and is dismissed to happiness." Hazlitt seconded Johnson, finding in Bertram no more than "wilful stubbornness and youthful petulance."36... | |
 | David Haley - Drama - 1993 - 332 pages
...be made in the courtly mirror. Dr. Johnson's dissatisfaction with the play's ending is well known: "I cannot reconcile my heart to Bertram; a man noble...defends himself by falsehood, and is dismissed to happiness."2 Against Johnson's strictures it is usual to set Coleridge's apology for Bertram, that... | |
 | Brian Vickers - 1995 - 585 pages
...of the stage, but perhaps never raised more laughter or contempt than in the hands of Shakespeare. I cannot reconcile my heart to Bertram; a man noble...by a woman whom he has wronged, defends himself by falshood, and is dismissed to happiness. The story of Bertram and Diana had been told before of Mariana... | |
 | William Shakespeare - English drama - 1998 - 260 pages
...it acted? Not I at any rate; and I suspect that it acts far better than it reads': Tillyard, p. 89. I cannot reconcile my heart to Bertram; a man noble...defends himself by falsehood, and is dismissed to happiness.1 And many after Johnson, whether officially espousing poetic justice or not, feel that Bertram... | |
 | Robert S. Miola - Literary Criticism - 2000 - 206 pages
...humiliation. He receives no punishment, however, but the love of a remarkable woman. Samuel Johnson objected: I cannot reconcile my heart to Bertram, a man noble...himself by falsehood, and is dismissed to happiness. (Vickers, v. 114) Generations of theatre-goers and readers have agreed, feeling that Bertram, like... | |
 | Peter Quennell, Hamish Johnson - Literary Criticism - 2002 - 246 pages
...gentleman. Critics have been virtually unanimous in condemning him. Samuel Johnson's comment is typical : 'I cannot reconcile my heart to Bertram ; a man noble...unkindness, sneaks home to a second marriage, is accused by the woman whom he has wronged, defends himself by falsehood, and is dismissed to happiness.' It is... | |
 | Judith Woolf - Education - 2005 - 192 pages
...deleting the first seven words from Dr Johnson's famous note on Shakespeare's All's Well That Ends Well. I cannot reconcile my heart to Bertram; a man noble...himself by falsehood, and is dismissed to happiness.' 'An essay should have a beginning, a middle and an end' This seems on the face of it to be a harmless... | |
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I cannot reconcile my heart to Bertram ; a man noble without generosity, and young without truth ; who marries Helen as a coward, and leaves her as a profligate . when she is dead by his unkindness, sneaks home to a second marriage, is accused by a woman... 
