Sunday, February 12, 2017


From all such devils, good lord, deliver us!
Hortensio        
The Taming of the Shrew                  Act I, Scene i      Line 66
Well it’s a good stand-alone line, and perfectly usable, and eminently understandable, in today’s world. In fact, all too usable in today’s world. But in the play I believe that Hortensio is alluding to the Katharina, the titular shrew. So we’re only 66 lines into the play (not counting the two scene induction – another story for another day) and we’re already seeing Katharina (I like to refer to her as Kate, as in Kiss Me Kate) being referred to as the devil. Well we could talk about the stand-alone line, or we could talk about the play. Yeah, you guessed it, I don't know too much about this play.
Well, that's not exactly true. I've read and listened to this one. I just haven't done it recently. But it's a good one, and it's a comedy. So if you're going to start getting upset that we're referring to a woman as a shrew (or the devil), well maybe you should at least try to take a look at more of the play before you pass judgement.
In the meantime, well, you can use this line as a stand-alone for any situation you find appropriate. Even Will if you're so inclined.

Agreed, not the devil. Just the same, someone that I might want to be delivered from. How about you?

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