2006-10-01 14:50:05 · 12 answers · asked by GB123 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
He was, indeed.
The original version of Hamlet (actually written by Francis Bacon, of course) runs as follows:
HAMLET: '2B, or not to 2B--that is the pencil:
Whether 'tis nobler on the page to soften,
and sling away forever the harsh arrows left by HB graphite,
And then to take rubber against a sea of mistakes,
and, by erasing, end them...'
And runs all the way to :
'Soft you must now buy, fair Ophelia!
Nymph, switch to a gentler pencil,
and be in all my shavings remembered.'
Can't believe Shakespeare tampered with that.
Tut, tut.
2006-10-01 15:47:35 · answer #1 · answered by Bowzer 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Actually the pencil was thought to have been invented in 1565, and since Hamlet was written some time between 1595 and 1602 they were around.
However, the process for making pencils common to those we use today was not refined until 1795, and it was not until the beginning of the 20th century that we had the current grading system. Therefore it seems much more likely that Hamlet was actually talking about the merits of death over a life of pain.
2006-10-01 15:09:46 · answer #2 · answered by kirstyb_84 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Nah! he was constipated! And being an artist he decided to "Work it out" with a pencil. "2b or not 2b, That is the question"
2006-10-01 21:26:36 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
No, he was choosing which class the kids should go in next term! 2B or not 2B, 2A or not 2A, its just that some idiot mucked it up and made it sound important.
2006-10-01 15:02:27 · answer #4 · answered by libbyft 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Shakespeareans didn't use pencils, they used feathers, so he must was undecidable if to jump or not.
2006-10-01 15:24:13 · answer #5 · answered by Walt. 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No,he wanted to be a girl.
2006-10-01 15:17:35 · answer #6 · answered by fadly j 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In fact, he was wondering what to call his secret love child.......... Toby or not Toby.
2006-10-01 15:40:36 · answer #7 · answered by Polo 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually a quill.
2006-10-01 14:58:49 · answer #8 · answered by no nickname 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
he actually wanted an HB
2006-10-01 15:02:37 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
They didn't have pencils back then.
2006-10-01 14:57:20 · answer #10 · answered by wisechineseguy 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋