Comments on: ‘Shuffle Off This Mortal Coil’ Meaning

By: Liberty Miller

Liberty Miller — Tue, 30 Jan 2024 10:12:53 +0000

A rephrasing of the author’s point:
A coil is also a thing that wraps around and encompases– a snake coils around its prey. “To shuffle off” also brings to mind a snake shuffling off its old skin. Could ‘shuffling off a mortal coil’ allude to shedding one’s old ‘skin’ for a new ‘skin’?
(“And snakes moult and shuffle themselves out of their old skin to emerge as something brand new, and they then go ahead with a new existence.”)

By: PaulaB

PaulaB — Tue, 14 Nov 2023 10:42:10 +0000

I always assumed that the mortal coil referred to the cycle of life we live on earth from birth to youth, to work and parenthood, to it’s trials and tribulations through to old age and inevitable death. I don’t see coil as a reference to the body as referred to in this article.

By: NL Clarke

NL Clarke — Mon, 04 Sep 2023 00:15:06 +0000

I always thought “coil” was just a metaphorical/artistic description of that unknown thing that tethers us to life on this earth. (???)

By: Mary

Mary — Sat, 19 Aug 2023 09:25:53 +0000

In reply to Eddie Tweed. It's not a ''baby'' but a ''creature''. There is no life untill it literally come out of the womb.

By: Helena Nelson

Helena Nelson — Sun, 11 Jun 2023 16:22:54 +0000

I didn’t know coil/coyle could mean mess/messiness. And am glad to know. That enriches the speech for me, and I savoured your whole piece: accessibly written and interesting. Even the discussion comments are good, and I like the idea about the hangman’s noose. Thank you!

By: Jim Smith

Jim Smith — Sun, 07 May 2023 03:35:31 +0000

My impression when I read this was that of time. From birth until death we’re all encumbered with time. Coils we shake off the vestige of life, rid ourselves of time and existence evermore. The ticking of time bothers us not.

By: norman

norman — Tue, 15 Nov 2022 11:46:11 +0000

I was introduced to this expression when I saw “ HAIR “
on stage in London in the 60’s. It was wonderful to hear Macbeth
“ sung” . I agree that it alludes to the mess of life .. I even
felt it when I heard it sung.

By: Eddie Tweed

Eddie Tweed — Fri, 22 Jul 2022 15:49:26 +0000

When I think of “this mortal coil,” I picture the umbilical cord that gives life to the baby in the womb, but has to be removed to allow access to a whole new life.

By: David St. Hubbins

David St. Hubbins — Sun, 15 May 2022 04:57:26 +0000

You had it right with mess. Snakes and butterflies? No.

By: Avi

Avi — Thu, 08 Jul 2021 16:39:41 +0000

DNA is wrapped like a coil. So he’s also saying leaving the essence of physical creation. Yes, it would have been impossible for Shakespeare to have know about DNA. But after studying his writing for all my life, I believe his mind was able to sometimes connect to an all encompassing frequency of knowledge.