"In speaking, for convenience, of devices and expedients, I did not intend to imply that Shakespeare always deliberately aimed at the effects which he produced"
- Andrew Coyle Bradley
About this Quote
Andrew Coyle Bradley is emphasizing that Shakespeare was not constantly knowingly aware of the effects he was creating in his writing. He was most likely making use of devices and also expedients to develop the wanted effect, yet not always with the purpose of doing so. Bradley is suggesting that Shakespeare's writing was so powerful and also reliable that it had the ability to produce the preferred result without him always knowing it. He is likewise recommending that Shakespeare's writing was so reliable that it was able to produce the preferred result even when he was not consciously aiming for it. This quote is a testimony to the power of Shakespeare's writing as well as the effect it had on visitors. It is a pointer that also when we are not consciously familiar with the results our words have, they can still have a powerful effect.
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