What does that mean?
About this expression:
Shuffle Off This Mortal Coil?Did the 16th century offer Shakespeare any examples of a spring-driven mechanical man, the word "spring" being a synonym for "coil"?
But how would one shuffle off a spring?
(. . . later . . .)
I finally found this explanation: Link.
The true answer, provided at the link, has nothing to do with my speculations about a mechanical man.
Labels: Robots
6 Comments:
Very interesting. I got it into my head that a "coil" was an archaic term for a chain, perhaps wound 'round the soul.
I'm trying to understand everything I learned when I was younger.
Jeffery Hodges
* * *
I think of intestines and veins worming--coiling--around our souls. Something like that.
Assuming it is necessary to understand at a denotative, or even a scientific, level. After all, it is Shakespeare. It sounds good.
Actually, Shakespeare was quoting me . . .
Jeffery Hodges
* * *
Was he quoting from an MLA approved edition, or from your variorum?
The man's words forever come back to haunt him . . .
Jeffery Hodges
* * *
Post a Comment
<< Home