I picked and cut most of their festival purses; and had…
““I picked and cut most of their festival purses; and had not the old man come in with whoo-bub against his daughter and the king’s son and scared my choughs from the chaff, I had not left a purse alive in the whole army. THE WINTER’S TALE, 4.4 IN SHAKESPEARE’S DAY, meat turnovers like these were called “purses” because they looked like the small change holders people wore attached to their belts. The expression “cut purse” referred to a thief who cut the cord to steal the purse, an all too common occurrence in those days before policed streets. The savory filling of tangy candied ginger and sweet dried fruit make these purses worth stealing!””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
He describes a thief stealing purses, using vivid culinary imagery to illustrate the allure and risk of theft.
In simple terms: Stealing is tempting when the reward looks appealing.
Key Takeaway
Beware of tempting opportunities that lead to wrongdoing.
Themes
theft
temptation
risk
culture
Mood
cautionary
reflective
Type
narrative
descriptive
When to use this quote
- marketplaces
- festivals
- street crime
- historical reenactments
Key Concepts
historical context
metaphor
culinary description
Questions to Reflect On
- What makes a seemingly harmless act become a serious crime?
- How does vivid description affect our perception of wrongdoing?
A Different Perspective
The passage romanticizes theft, overlooking moral consequences.