>
> Philip Hart wrote:
> > ... A simple example is the conversion of many Shakespeare
> > quotes into cliches.
>
> Not to belabour the point, but 'a rose by any other name would smell as
> sweet.'
>
> Shakespeare quotes out of context do not lose much of their impact, and the
> wide familiarity with such quotes serves only to make his plays more
> accessible. This, in my opinion, can only be A Good Thing.
Two counter-arguments:
1) Many of them are *mis*-quotes. e.g., "gilding the lily", which made
so much more sense in the original:
SALISBURY. Therefore, to be possess'd with double pomp,
To guard a title that was rich before,
To gild refined gold, to paint the lily,
To throw a perfume on the violet,
To smooth the ice, or add another hue
Unto the rainbow, or with taper-light
To seek the beauteous eye of heaven to garnish,
Is wasteful and ridiculous excess.
2) Many of these quotes were originally marvelously clever and original.
No modern person can ever have the experience the verbal brilliance of
Hamlet without a great deal of "now where have I heard that before"...
Alexx
Alexx Kay
Opinions expressed are my own and not necessarily those of my employers
alexx at world.std.com
http://world.std.com/~alexx
"Magnum Opus Con is the Rob Liefeld of SF conventions. There really
are equivalents of Alan Moore (Readercon), Jack Kirby (Worldcon),
Murphy Anderson (Philcon), etc." -- Lawrence Watt-Evans