64 UNIVERSITY or COLORADO STUDIES 



are only a few of the pseudo-sciences of human nature. The theory 

 of humors in medicine, and even the pretentious utterances of novehsts 

 like Meredith and Crawford concerning human motive, are attempts to 

 satisfy this craving without paying the price of such knowledge in 

 scientific research. Child-study and the study of adolescence are 

 crude beginnings of a real science of human nature. 



Meanwhile, many generations must elapse before we can look for 

 much in this direction that will satisfy the methodology of serious men 

 of science. 



The purpose of the present essays is to present a classification of 

 human types drawn from an inductive reading of Shakespeare. I 

 do not think that any one has employed this method at all thoroughly 

 heretofore. There are great numbers of brilliant studies of the char- 

 acters in Shakespeare, to all of which I am indebted in this work. But 

 they are all subjective in their selection of th.^ aspects of character to 

 be treated; and none of them reaches the point of considering the 

 significance of the minor characters. Anyone familiar with this field 

 must know that the minor characters of Shakespeare have scarcely been 

 considered by the great critics. Yet I hope to show that a careful 

 appreciation of these foils and background figures gives valuable re- 

 sults in indicating the author's meaning in larger matters. Then, 

 again, in Psychognosis, we must not only study a few striking types of 

 character, but also the typical situations in which men find themselves 

 in the world of real experience. 



I offer no apology for the tediousness of my method, nor do I claim 

 that it is free from subjective errors. It is an attempt, not indeed at 

 a science of Hterature and character, but at some shght departure from 

 the grossest subjectivity. 



I have endeavored to bring together all the deeds and utterances 

 of each character in the play, and to stand aside as far as possible while 

 these collected facts gave a general resultant. This self-effacement 

 is, of course, impossible. And therefore I shall be content with the 

 judgment of the judicious. But though I may ignore some speeches 

 too much, or emphasize some too much, that is inevitable. I have at 



