The, creepiest word in Macbeth

I know almost zero Shakespeare, but even I can recall Romeo and Juliet debating whether “night’s candles were burnt out” by whether it was “the nightingale” or “the lark” that sang.

So, was that the creepy scene in Romeo and Juliet? It seemed so sweet.

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Bringing up Thurber and Shakespeare reminded me of the frightening Get-Ready Man. MY LIFE AND HARD TIMES - ENGLISH - JAMES THURBER : JAMES THURBER : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

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Haha, brilliant, I knew before even clicking this was going to be THE WORLD IS COMING TO AN END! I grew up with a two-volume “Vintage Thurber” set my mother got from a book club in the house, and so many of his funny childhood memories are mixed up with mine… (no “Get-Ready Man” in our hometown though) :slight_smile:

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Hmmm… interesting. To my ears, that makes it sound like my parents, who had no familiarity with anything:
“Are the you playing the Pac-Man again? Are you smoking the marijuana?”

I know when I want to tease my students, I call it the Facebook or the YouTube. As in, “I don’t mind if you record this lecture, but I better not end up on the YouTube!” Always gets a chuckle (and at least one, “don’t call it that”).

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I’m reminded of the great, late Christopher Stasheff writing of the Macbeth that one reason for the superstition is the sheer amount of coordinated mayhem on stage – the battles, the duels, the murder, and the other situations requiring the actors both experienced and new to make physical movements while swinging the heavy weapon-shaped objects at each other.

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■■■■■ actually isn’t used in Macbeth, but it is used in Hamlet:

As stars with trains of fire, and dews of blood,
Disasters in the sun; and the ■■■■■ star
Upon whose influence Neptune’s empire stands
Was sick almost to doomsday with eclipse.

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https://www.rhymezone.com/r/ss.cgi?q=■■■■■&mode=k

OTHELLO : Give me your hand: this hand is ■■■■■, my lady.

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https://www.opensourceshakespeare.org/

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You and @FGD135 , could you please now experiment whether warding of the Macbeth curse is done this way or that way? Or another? Because I really could need something to get rid of my cursed situation.

Take your pick.

Like with so many other quotes, more than one version is around.

I like the one with Puck better as it refers to a character in another play by Shakespeare.

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Agreed. “Pluck” doesn’t make any sense in this context while “Puck will make amends” is directly referring to A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

If we shadows have offended,
Think but this, and all is mended—
That you have but slumbered here
While these visions did appear.
And this weak and idle theme,
No more yielding but a dream,
Gentles, do not reprehend.
If you pardon, we will mend.
And, as I am an honest Puck,
If we have unearnèd luck
Now to ’scape the serpent’s tongue,
We will make amends ere long.
Else the Puck a liar call.
So good night unto you all.
Give me your hands if we be friends,
And Robin shall restore amends.

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“Pluck to make amends” coincides with the actors tweaking each other’s nose.

@LutherBlisset I will experiment with the weird sisters.

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Who killed Cock Robin poem

“Who killed Cock Robin?” “I,” said the Sparrow,
“With my bow and arrow, I killed Cock Robin.”
“Who saw him die?” “I,” said the Fly,
“With my little eye, I saw him die.”
“Who caught his blood?” “I,” said the Fish,
“With my little dish, I caught his blood.”
“Who’ll make the shroud?” “I,” said the Beetle,
“With my thread and needle, I’ll make the shroud.”
“Who’ll dig his grave?” “I,” said the Owl,
“With my pick and shovel, I’ll dig his grave.”
“Who’ll be the parson?” “I,” said the Rook,
“With my little book, I’ll be the parson.”
“Who’ll be the clerk?” “I,” said the Lark,
“If it’s not in the dark, I’ll be the clerk.”
“Who’ll carry the link?” “I,” said the Linnet,
“I’ll fetch it in a minute, I’ll carry the link.”
“Who’ll be chief mourner?” “I,” said the Dove,
“I mourn for my love, I’ll be chief mourner.”
“Who’ll carry the coffin?” “I,” said the Kite,
“If it’s not through the night, I’ll carry the coffin.”
"Who’ll bear the pall? “We,” said the Wren,
“Both the cock and the hen, we’ll bear the pall.”
“Who’ll sing a psalm?” “I,” said the Thrush,
“As she sat on a bush, I’ll sing a psalm.”
“Who’ll toll the bell?” “I,” said the bull,
“Because I can pull, I’ll toll the bell.”
All the birds of the air fell a-sighing and a-sobbing,
When they heard the bell toll for poor Cock Robin.

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