Essay on the Use of Profanity by William Shakespeare :: Biography Biographies Essays

Use of Profanity by Shakespeare The evolution of written profanity began or so in the sixteenth century, and continues to change with each generation that it sees. Profanity is recognized in m whatsoever Shakespearean whole kit and boodle, and has continu eachy evolved into the profane language used today. slightly cuss words have somehow maintained their original meanings throughout hundreds of years, while many others have completely changed meaning or simply move out of use. William Shakespeare, though it is not widely taught, was not a very clean writer. In fact, he was somewhat of a potty mouth. His full treatment encompassed a lot of things that some people wish he had not. That includes a fair helping of sex, violence, crime, horror, politics, religion, anti-authoritarianism, anti-semitism, racism, xenophobia, sexism, jealousy, profanity, satire, and controversy of all kinds (Macrone 6). In his time, religious and moral bedamns were more uneasy than biological curses . Most all original (before being censored) Shakespearean works contain very offensive profanity, mostly religious, which is probably one of many reasons that his works were and are so popular. Shakespeare pushed a lot of buttons in his day- which is one reason he was so phenomenally popular. Despite what they tell you, people like having their buttons pushed (Macrone 6). Because his works contained so many of these profane words or phrases, they were censored to protect the innocent minds of the teenagers who are required to read them, and also because they were blasphemous and offensive. Almost all of the profanity was removed, and that that was not had just reason for being there. Some of the Bards censored oaths are Gods blessing on your beard Loves Labors Lost, II.i.203 This was a very rude curse because a mans facial hair was a point of pride for him. and to play with someones beard was to insult him. Gods body 1 Henry IV,II.i.26 Swearing by Christs body, (or any part thereof,) was off limits in civil discourse. Gods Bod(y)kins, man Hamlet, II.ii.529 The word bod(y)kin means little body or dear body, but adding the cute little postfix does not make this curse any more acceptable. By Gods blest mother 2 Henry VI, II.i 3 Henry VI, III.ii Henry VIII, V.i Swearing by the double-dyed(a) was almost as rude as swearing by her son, especially when addressing a catholic cathedral as Gloucester did in 2 Henry VI, II.