My father was an erudite man with a love of language and a great pun. A true wordsmith, he had a vast library of books that he frequently consulted when writing speeches or presentations. When he died some 30 years ago, I inherited some of those treasured volumes. And while I may not share his vocabulary or quick wit, his books have often come to my rescue when faced with a blank page.
Today is one of those days. However, as it’s 461 years since the birth of William Shakespeare, the finest playwright of all time, and as most of our team would give their eye-teeth for a good part in one of his plays, it feels right to honour him here.
In search of inspiration, I reached for one of my father’s books: Shakespeare’s Insults – Educating Your Wit by Wayne F. Hill and Cynthia J. Ottchen. It’s brilliant! Cleverly organised so you can search insults by play or by behaviour, with pages of wonderfully cutting expletives and name-calling.
Shakespeare’s talent for insult is part of what makes his writing so enduring. Who can resist the satisfaction of “Tush!”, “Chops!”, or “Fut!”? And his name-calling still works as well now as I’m sure it did in the 16th Century.
Imagine storming out of a room with a well-placed, “You… snail! slug! vile politician! fat chuff! viperous worm! idle weed!” Tell me you couldn’t use at least one of those?
He really did write a wealth of perfect insults (all brilliantly compiled in the book) and I have selected a few of my favourites:
- “He has not so much brain as ear-wax.” – Troilus and Cressida
- “Sell your face for five pence and tis dear.” – King John
- “I can see his pride peep through each part of him.” – Henry VIII
- “More of your conversation would infect my brain.” – Coriolanus
- “(You) speak an infinite deal of nothing.” – The Merchant of Venice
There must be times when you would have benefitted from at least one of these great one- liners and now thanks to my father and Shakespeare’s Insults we should never be at a loss for words!
Do you have a favourite Shakespearean insult of your own? If so, I’d love to hear it.
