#BostonShakespeare

You know what? It’s a one-joke gimmick but it’s funny to me.

If Shakespeare Lived In Boston…

O, most wicked awesome speed, to post
With such dexterity to incestuous sheets!

Hamlet, apparently more approving of his mother’s o’erhasty marriage than he’s letting on? Hamlet (Act 1, Scene 2)

But then you’ll think–Which I protest against–
I am assisted by wicked awesome powers.

In fairness, Paulina, you did appear to resurrect the long dead Hermione, that’s pretty wicked awesome. The Winters’ Tale (Act 5, Scene 3)

Look round about the wicked awesome streets of Rome;
And when thou find’st a man that’s like thyself.
Good Murder, stab him; he’s a murderer.

Titus appears to really enjoy the Roman night life, especially the bad part of town. Titus Andronicus (Act 5, Scene 2)

Thou poisonous slave, got by the devil himself
Upon thy wicked awesome dam, come forth!

We knew Prospero had a thing for Sycorax. The Tempest (Act 1, Scene 2)

I think the best way were to entertain him
with hope, till the wicked awesome fire of lust have melted him in his own grease.

Can confirm, the fire of lust is indeed wicked awesome. It was, in fact what the Chorus was originally calling out for in the original Henry V opening. “O! For a muse of fire of lust…. ” Merry Wives of Windsor (Act 2, Scene 1)

God grant me too
Thou mayst be damned for that wicked awesome deed!

Modern translation: “Damn that was wicked awesome.” Richard III (Act 1, Scene 2)

By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked awesome this way comes.

The witches are impressed. Macbeth (Act 4, Scene 1)

Before I knew
thee, Hal, I knew nothing; and now am I, if a man
should speak truly, little better than one of the
wicked awesome.

Falstaff wasn’t just one of the wicked awesome, he originate the term. Henry IV Part 1 (Act 1, Scene 2)

The king my father did in Tarsus leave me;
Till cruel Cleon, with his wicked awesome wife,
Did seek to murder me: (Pericles 5 1)

That Cleon was a real bastard, but his wife was cool. Pericles (Act 5, Scene 1)

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