Tuesday, November 29, 2011

What is the translation of "witches mummy maw and gulf" in "Macbeth"?

The line is missing commas. It should read, "Witches' mummy, maw, and gulf." (Macbeth, 4.1.24). The line references the ingredients that the witches are adding to the pot in which they are making a rather gruesome potion for Macbeth. The "mummy," refers to mummia, an ingredient like glue used to preserve mummies. "Maw" is an opening through which food is taken. Here it refers to the opening of the stomach, "gulf." It is thought that Shakespeare created these horrible mixtures as a caraicature of Scottish cooking, particularly the delicacy, haggis. Haggis is a sheep or goat stomach stuffed with oatmeal and organ meats and then boiled.

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