Mr. Shakespeare—Sheridan—Shaw
SIR,—A wcek or so ago Strix referred to the latest theory on the much disputed authorship of Shakespeare's plays. Perhaps he might be interested in a yet later theory of my own inspired by his paragraph— namely that the plays of Shakespeare were written by Mr. George Bernard Shaw, or, conversely if you like, that the plays of G.B.S. were written by Shakespeare.
It all seems as clear as daylight if you examine the evidence. The key lies of course in Back to Methuselah. Shakespeare like Haslain just lived. on. The burden of this secret he has revealed in dramatic symbolism in this play. Shaw, Shakespeare and possibly Sheridan were one and the same man. Once this is accepted as likely (and what indeed could be more likely?), there is plenty of internal evidence to confirm it. Who has ever treated the great Elizabethan genius with such affectionate patronage, such easy intimacy, on occasions with such almost obsessional visitation as G.B.S. ? Note, too, the attitude towards women common to both great writers. No other dramatist has ever exalted the position of women so clearly and consistently as these two in one, or one in two. What is Sebastian beside Viola. Orlando beside Rosalind, or any of the male characters- beside Major Barbara, Lady Cicily, St. Joan or Candida ? Has not Beatrice the true Shaviah touch ?
Note, too, the attitude towards spelling adopted by each—Shakespeare. in his more enlightened age, actually putting into practice the simpli- fied form of spelling so passionately and nostalgically advocated by G.B.S. Has it never struck others that the first three letters in the names of our two greatest dramatists are identical ? Again the query ai to Sheridan rises to my mind. There are hints to be found in The Critic, and Sheridan was undoubtedly pronounced Sharidan by his Irish compatriots.
All these and many other points will be dealt with fully in my forth- coming treatise on the subject entitled SH2. I trust that Strix and Spectator readers will order advance copies from—Yours faithfully, V. K. MOORE. Hill House, Seal Hollow Road, Sevenoaks, Kent.
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