Hamlet 3.2.240 (the line # may differ in different editions)
Gertrude says this of the Player Queen who is swearing fidelity to the husband she is about to murder (or, if your prefer, murther).
The use of this line (often misquoted by people who don't take a couple of minutes to Google it) is a means, which sadly I know myself to have used at times, to suggest that someone who defends himself at length is all the more certainly guilty for it. I suppose that is true at times (but then so is "pleading the 5th"), but it can also be something of a trick for intimidating a verbose opponent.
But in some situations the allegedly verbose one simply realizes that it takes more than a few words to describe complicated matters, especially matters close to the heart.
It is especially ironic when this "trick" occurs in the midst of a lengthy speech (which again I'm sure I myself have done).
And of course the irony in Hamlet is that Gertrude who speaks this line is herself as guilty as the Player Queen (who represents her).
So if you ever use this line on anyone, just remember that by analogy with its use in Hamlet, you are as guilty as the one you accuse. (Or guiltier. She is just an actor, after all.)
This is a bit like the accusation of being "negative". If one chooses to reply, "No, I'm not.", a biased opponent will say, "See, you said 'no'. You're so negative.", ignoring the laws of arithmetic. I can easily imagine Homer Simpson doing this to Marge.
These are ad hominem ("against the man") arguments which focus on the manner of the arguments made, drawing conclusions about the character of the speaker, while not focussing on the arguments themselves.
Such arguments are used often in ignorance, but when we know better, we ought to be ashamed of ourselves.
It may be that we all do this (including myself), but we should stop.
Arrogant people *can* actually be correct -- but we should not be arrogant. I, of course, cannot say that I am not arrogant without sounding arrogant to some. Maybe I should say that I am arrogant, but that would be called "false humility" by some.
Lord have mercy on us all.
Neither those who speak much or those who keep silent are necessarily in the wrong.
Pay attention to the words and their meanings not to their number.
Perhaps the best response is that of the Amishman who was asked "Are you saved!!?" by an eager Evangelical:
"Ask my neighbours."
Well, Richard,
ReplyDeleteI must confess, I had to roll my eyes - and then smile. One of the things I both love the most about about and find the most frusterating is your passion for language. :-)
My Grampa has the same passion - especially for grammer and spelling... and I have the same contradictory feelings for him about it - so you are in good company!
I'm sure that the frusteration only stems from my lack of ability. I prefer to think that, if I'm not good at it, it probably isn't really important...
As someone who finds language difficult, (spelling illogical and difficult to grasp, constantly mis-quoting others and using words incorrectly), I've adopted the "Burgess" method of communication.
Burgess was a quarterback who said (mis-quoted I'm sure) "If you caught the ball, it must have been a good pass"...
If you understood what I was trying to say, it must have been good communication!
Now - when it comes to numbers... that is another matter entirely!!! :-)
It is not impossible to catch a "bad" pass, but it is more likely that a well-thrown pass will be caught (though the receiver has a part to play as well). Therefore, QBs are taught & expected to throw well when possible (including suiting their passes to the receivers' abilities)?
ReplyDeleteActually, this post isn't so much about the words themselves (though it was misquoted to me as "Methinks thou dost protest too much." which would have been okay if the writer [in a *long* email] had not then tried to appear knowledgeable by attributing that to WS, without Googling it first).
It's more about the concept behind it (the trick) that a long explanation reveals guilt, plus the irony (which proves nothing, but is fun) that, if one wants to attribute this to WS, the original speaker of this line (Gertrude) was guilty or guiltier than the Player Queen (the protester).
It's like the camp speaker who told the campers that scientists had discovered a star bigger than our galaxy. When pressed for more details re. this incredible claim, he told me "Well, I'm not scientist." Fine, then, stick to what you know; don't talk about science. (To be fair, that speaker had just lost a grandchild and was not in top form.)
I was also told once not to pick at the words of a (legal) document that had huge implications for my life, but to see (somehow!!) the spirit behind it. My Dad said that no real manager could hold such a view.
Well, first of all, the words I could see were suggesting to me a spirit about which I had great misgivings (and I believe the outcome supported them). But more relevant to this discussion was my unspoken thought, "But it's words that we are using here to communicate. Would you prefer that we use grunts and gestures?" I suppose that a hug in that setting could have communicated a great deal -- BUT -- it could also have deceptive and would have had no legal weight anyway (whether that's right or not).
(This isnt directed at you Erica. I'm just on a roll.)
ReplyDeleteI am verbose, but it's because my worldview is that life is subtle, nuanced and complicated and not easily summarized in brief sentences. Those sound like to me like dangerous slogans "Arbeit macht Frei." (Google it.)
"Every edit is a lie." Jean-Luc Godard (according to Google).
Methinks thou dost protest too much.
ReplyDeletehee hee hee
Yes,
ReplyDeleteI caught the larger meaning, but had to comment on the former...
Despite my struggle with appropriate and proper (distinct meanings intended) language, I have never struggled for lack of words... However, throughout my education I have noticed a trend. Where as in highschool I was required to write longer and longer papers, in my post-secondary education, the requirement was to become more and more concise.
Perhaps this reflects a changing value in our society... Or more suspicion over many words... Or less time to mark papers... :-)
The latter, methinks.
ReplyDelete