Misattributed Shakespearean Quotes: Unveiling the True Authors and Historical Context

William Shakespeare is one of the most celebrated playwrights and poets in the English language. His works have been studied, analyzed, and celebrated for centuries, transcending time and culture. However, it is not uncommon for quotes to be mistakenly attributed to him. This article delves into some of these misattributed quotes, their true origins, and the historical context surrounding their attribution.

Famous Misattributions: All the World's a Stage and In Brass Their Virtues Live

One of the most well-known instances where a line originally thought to be penned by Shakespeare but later credited to someone else is the famous quote, All the world's a stage; and all the men and women merely players. This excerpt is from Act 2, Scene 2 of Shakespeare's play, As You Like It. However, a version of this quote originally appeared in a different context. The quote Mankind is a greater vessel of folly than Scripture saith was actually part of a different work by Francis Mercury van Helmont, a Flemish physician and alchemist. The adaptation of this line into the familiar All the world's a stage adds a layer of complexity to Shakespeare's influence in popular culture.

The quote Mankind's evil manners live in brass; their virtues we write in water is another example of misattribution. This line, often cited as originating from one of Shakespeare's plays, is actually from the play The Puritan by James Shirley, written in the 17th century.

Religious and Historical Context: Remembrance of Things Past

The phrase Remembrance of things past has become synonymous with profound reflection and nostalgia. This famous phrase appears in Shakespeare's sonnet, but it actually first appeared in the so-called Bishop's Bible, a predecessor to the King James Version of the Bible. The Bishop's Bible was a very early English-language translation of the Bible, favored by high church Anglicans in the 16th century.

The phrase gained renewed popularity when it was used as the title of Marcel Proust's most famous work, In Search of Lost Time. Proust used the English translation of the phrase, reflecting the historical and cultural evolution of this concept from religious reflection to a literary and philosophical exploration of memory.

Social and Literary Commentary: All That Glisters Is Not Gold

The saying All that glisters is not gold is perhaps one of the most recognizable quotes often attributed to Shakespeare. Shakespeare used a version of the saying in his play, The Merchant of Venice. However, this saying is centuries older, dating back to the 12th and 13th centuries. It appears in the works of Geoffrey Chaucer, who paraphrased the original saying.

Shakespeare's version of the saying, All that glisters is not gold is so close to the version used today that it's plausible to suggest that Shakespeare did a great deal to popularize the saying. His use of the phrase in a highly appropriate context, such as the famous casket test involving Portia's suitors, further cemented its place in literary history.

Modern Misattributions and Academic Corrections

Academic research and critical analysis have corrected many of these misattributions over the years. For instance, the quote O, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive!, is often attributed to Shakespeare, but it was actually written by the Scottish writer Sir Walter Scott, in his work Marmion. Scott lived about 200 years after Shakespeare, and the error can be considered a fairly modern one, reflecting the enduring impact of Shakespeare's works on popular culture.

Understanding these misattributions not only enriches our appreciation of Shakespeare's works but also highlights the importance of critical analysis and academic research in accurately attributing literary works to their rightful authors.

Key Takeaways

Misattributing quotes can have a significant impact on popular culture and academic understanding. Shakespeare's works have significantly influenced the English language, contributing to many popular sayings and phrases. Academic research plays a crucial role in correcting misattributions and providing historical context.

By examining these misattributed quotes, we gain a deeper appreciation for the richness of literary heritage and the importance of scholarly research in maintaining the integrity of our cultural knowledge.