The world is your oyster" is a quote from
Shakespeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor.
The Merry Wives of Winsor is a comedy by William Shakespeare. It was published in 1602. It is set in the Elizabethan era in Windsor located in Berkshire County, England. Windsor is a few miles west of London and is the site of Windsor Castle.
The leading character, Falstaff is short on money. He feels in order to gain a financial advantage, he must court two wealthy, married women. Falstaff decides he will send these two women, Mistress Ford and Mistress Page two identical love letters. Falstaff plans do not go as hoped and becomes the start of the unraveling of events for him.
The women discover Falstaff failings of trying to woo both of them, therefore the women decide to gain revenge in a humorous manner. Falstaff arrives to meet Mistress Ford, the merry wives trick him into hiding in a laundry basket full of dirty, smelly clothes awaiting laundering. The jealous husband, Mr. Ford returns to try and catch his wife with the knight. The wives take the basket of clothes and dumped them into the river along with Falstaff. Falstaff's pride is hurt a little, but he proves his resilience. He is convinced that the wives are just "playing hard to get" and continues his pursuit of affection.
The two women continue there shenanigans with Falstaff, but eventually confess to their husbands of their comical doings. The husbands and wives band together and carry out a plot in front of the whole town to humiliate Falstaff.
The play precedes on with many twists and turns. I won't give away the rest of the story, however encourage you to read or watch the play in your spare time.
Now to the famous line in the play by Pistol, whom is one of Falstaff's followers.
In a conversation between the two, Falstaff states to Pistol, "I will not lend thee a penny." Pistol's response is, "Why then the world's mine oyster, which I with sword will open." To which Falstaff responds, "Not a penny."
So now leaves the questions, What is the meaning behind, the world's mine oyster?
One explanation is: If Falstaff had lent Pistol the money, then Pistol would not have needed to seek his fortune (pearl) by going out into the world (the oyster) and using what he already had (his sword and his skills). His sword would be his means of making his fortune -- just as it would be used to pry apart the shell of an oyster.
Pistol
is placed in to position of having to go
out into the world and make something of himself. Every oyster one picks
up may hold a pearl, but most don't. Finding a pearl requires either opening a
lot of oysters or having good luck -- either will work.
Life is the same way: some people get lucky and make a fortune without seeming to work very hard or very long at it. But, most people either never make a fortune (settling instead of surviving off the meat of the oyster, but never finding that pearl) or have to work long and hard (be persistent) to gain their fortunes.
The world, your oyster. It takes strength and skill to get inside. Hard work and persistence will get it open, but waiting on luck of others, will open the oyster very slowly.
Another explanation is: It's a metaphor. A pearl is made from an oyster. Be the most valuable pearl you want to be, don't let anything stop you. The oyster is your hard work; the more you produce the better quality potential of pearl you can become. Be the most valuable pearl you want to be out of your oyster.
I hope next time you hear this saying, you will stop for a moment and reflect on its possible meanings. You may have your own interpretation of what Shakespeare was trying to reveal to us. Think back to where you have been and where you are going. Work hard, enjoy life, and don't rely on others to do the hard work and accomplish your goals for you. Trust me, your uphill battle will reap many well deserved benefits that will reward you ten fold. How sweet and precious will that victory feel for you?
And don't forget- a pearl takes years to form, but what a beauty it is!
The Merry Wives of Winsor is a comedy by William Shakespeare. It was published in 1602. It is set in the Elizabethan era in Windsor located in Berkshire County, England. Windsor is a few miles west of London and is the site of Windsor Castle.
The leading character, Falstaff is short on money. He feels in order to gain a financial advantage, he must court two wealthy, married women. Falstaff decides he will send these two women, Mistress Ford and Mistress Page two identical love letters. Falstaff plans do not go as hoped and becomes the start of the unraveling of events for him.
The women discover Falstaff failings of trying to woo both of them, therefore the women decide to gain revenge in a humorous manner. Falstaff arrives to meet Mistress Ford, the merry wives trick him into hiding in a laundry basket full of dirty, smelly clothes awaiting laundering. The jealous husband, Mr. Ford returns to try and catch his wife with the knight. The wives take the basket of clothes and dumped them into the river along with Falstaff. Falstaff's pride is hurt a little, but he proves his resilience. He is convinced that the wives are just "playing hard to get" and continues his pursuit of affection.
photo courtesy of the Chicago Theater Beat
The two women continue there shenanigans with Falstaff, but eventually confess to their husbands of their comical doings. The husbands and wives band together and carry out a plot in front of the whole town to humiliate Falstaff.
The play precedes on with many twists and turns. I won't give away the rest of the story, however encourage you to read or watch the play in your spare time.
Now to the famous line in the play by Pistol, whom is one of Falstaff's followers.
In a conversation between the two, Falstaff states to Pistol, "I will not lend thee a penny." Pistol's response is, "Why then the world's mine oyster, which I with sword will open." To which Falstaff responds, "Not a penny."
So now leaves the questions, What is the meaning behind, the world's mine oyster?
One explanation is: If Falstaff had lent Pistol the money, then Pistol would not have needed to seek his fortune (pearl) by going out into the world (the oyster) and using what he already had (his sword and his skills). His sword would be his means of making his fortune -- just as it would be used to pry apart the shell of an oyster.
Life is the same way: some people get lucky and make a fortune without seeming to work very hard or very long at it. But, most people either never make a fortune (settling instead of surviving off the meat of the oyster, but never finding that pearl) or have to work long and hard (be persistent) to gain their fortunes.
Another explanation is: It's a metaphor. A pearl is made from an oyster. Be the most valuable pearl you want to be, don't let anything stop you. The oyster is your hard work; the more you produce the better quality potential of pearl you can become. Be the most valuable pearl you want to be out of your oyster.
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I hope next time you hear this saying, you will stop for a moment and reflect on its possible meanings. You may have your own interpretation of what Shakespeare was trying to reveal to us. Think back to where you have been and where you are going. Work hard, enjoy life, and don't rely on others to do the hard work and accomplish your goals for you. Trust me, your uphill battle will reap many well deserved benefits that will reward you ten fold. How sweet and precious will that victory feel for you?
And don't forget- a pearl takes years to form, but what a beauty it is!
Jennifer Hutchinson, Realtor
Hutchinson Team at Town Favorites Realty
225-978-1358 cell
4451 Bluebonnet Blvd.
Baton Rouge, La 70809
225-292-1172 office
.
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