Unveiling the Controversy: Shakespeare in the Book of Mormon?

Introduction

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The idea that a quote from Shakespeare might have been hushed up in the Book of Mormon has long been a topic of debate. The suggestion that Shakespearean phrases might subtly find their way into Joseph Smith's text raises questions that have fascinated scholars and curious readers alike. Through a careful examination of the quotes and a deeper look into the source material, we can explore whether the similarities are more than coincidental.

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Shakespeare's Influence and the Book of Mormon

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The Book of Mormon, a primary scripture of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has been read by millions across the globe. Despite its global readership, the notion that the book contains a direct quotation from Shakespeare has not been substantiated. Instead, what has been found is a reference to death that echoes the style and language of Shakespeare's works.

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Consider this verse from the Book of Mormon:

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Awake! and arise from the dust and hear the words of a trembling parent whose limbs ye must soon lay down in the cold and silent grave from whence no traveler can return. A few days and I go the way of all the earth.

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This verse, found in 2 Nephi 1:4, is a solemn and poignant message from a parent to their children. The reflection on mortality and the finality of death is unmistakable, yet no direct quote from Shakespeare is present.

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Shakespearean Echoes

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The similarity to Shakespearean language is notably in the phrase: "from whence no traveler returns." While this is not a direct quote from the Bard, it echoes the sentiment of Hamlet's famous soliloquy from Act 3, Scene 1:

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That patient merit of th unworthy takes when he himself might his quietus make with a bare bodkin who would fardels bear to grunt and sweat under a weary life but that the dread of something after death the undiscovered country from whose bourn no traveler returns puzzles the will and makes us rather bear those ills we have than fly to others that we know not of.

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The mention of "the undiscovered country" from which no traveler returns in Hamlet can be seen as an echo of the Book of Mormon verse. However, this is not a precise match but rather a thematic similarity.

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Other References and Interpretations

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Similar reflections on death are also found in the Bible, as seen in the Book of Job:

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When a few years are come then I shall go the way whence I shall not return

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Thus, the language of mortality and the passage to the unknown might be more reflective of common literary and cultural expressions of the era rather than direct quoting.

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Hugh Nibley, a prominent scholar, has pointed out the existence of another fragment that also speaks of the grave. This further complicates the interpretation as it blurs the line between coincidence and intentional reference.

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As Who exactly is copying whom? may seem ambiguous, the context of the similarities reveals a more complex interplay of literary influence and cultural references. While these echoes of Shakespearean language may suggest an unintentional parallel or a shared cultural background, they do not necessarily point to a conspiratorial silence or deliberate inclusion of Shakespeare's work by Joseph Smith.

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Conclusion

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The idea that a direct quotation from Shakespeare might have been omitted from the Book of Mormon is not supported by a thorough examination of the text. What we see instead is a thematic and stylistic echo that reflects broader literary and cultural references. Whether this is a coincidence, an unintentional parallel, or a deliberate literary choice, it remains a fascinating topic for discussion and further scholarly inquiry.