William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare, popularly referred to as The Bard,Rex Goodman: "I shall uplift our spirits by quoting from the Bard. Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow. Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt. So wise so young, they say do never live long. Hell is empty and all the devils are here. Let me embrace thee, sour adversity, for wise men say it is the wisest course."(Rex Goodman's dialogue)Note: In this speech, Rex is quoting several works from Shakespeare: "Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow" is from Act 2, Scene 2 of Romeo and Juliet; "Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt" is from Act 1, Scene 4 of Measure for Measure; "So wise so young, they say do never live long" is from Act 3, Scene 1 of Richard III; "Hell is empty and all the devils are here" is from Act 1, Scene 2 of The Tempest; and "Let me embrace thee, sour adversity, for wise men say it is the wisest course" is from Act 3, Scene 1 of Henry VI, Part 3. was a playwright and poet. He was arguably, and likely still remains, the most influential writer in the English language with his spellings being some of the first to be standardized. Many phrases and other sayings from his plays have also found their way into everyday speech and can still be heard commonly after the Great War.
==Shakespeare in the Fallout series==
* Several characters in the Fallout series share their names with other characters from Shakespeare's works, including Desdemona (Othello), as well as R. Rosen and Gilden (Hamlet; references to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern).
* Mister Handies throughout the series will say "have at thee," a phrase coined by Shakespeare.Andy: "Have at thee!"(Andy's dialogue)Codsworth: "Have at thee!"(Codsworth's dialogue)
* Phrases first coined by Shakespeare are said by many characters, including: "break the ice,"The Sole Survivor: "That's none of your business."Evan: ""(Evan's dialogue) "what's done is done,"What's Done is Done "mind's eye,"Pillars of TranscendenceCultist - Mind's Eye "pound of flesh,"Andrew: "{152}{}{Uh-oh. Looks like the ol' Doctor took a pound of flesh this time."(Andrew's dialogue)Pickman: "They were cold-blooded killers. "(Pickman's dialogue) "bated breath,"Colin Moriarty: ""(Colin Moriarty's dialogue)Micky: "{124}{}{I'll be waiting with bated breath.}"(Micky's dialogue) "eat someone out of house and home,"Mom: "{220}{}{You already half-ate me out of house and home. Why dontcha find someplace else to hang out for a while? You've eaten here enough today.}"(Mom's dialogue) "laughing stock,"Lorenzo Cabot's journalThe Mariner: " If we tell them the truth, we'll be a laughing stock."(The Mariner's dialogue)The Lone Wanderer: "You don't have the experience for a book like this. You'll be a laughingstock."Moira Brown: "But that's why I'm getting your help! I know my flaws, and with your help, we can make something great for the world! "(Moira Brown's dialogue) "mortal coil,"Aries: "Their screams echoing back as our merciless assault rips them from this mortal coil. Darkly we stride, tall and powerful, through this tunnel of death."(Aries' dialogue)Molly: "You looking to hurt something? There's a robotic cop down in Watoga that apparently pays real caps for giving "squatters" an eviction from this mortal coil."(Molly's dialogue)Jagged Jimmy J: "{336}{}{How can one TRULY know another, Jimmy? Is it even possible while we are on this mortal coil? Or is it only possible when we free ourselves from our physical bodies?}"(Jagged Jimmy J's dialogue) "wild-goose chase,"The Lone Wanderer: "This already sounds kind of like a wild goose chase."Agatha: "A famous man once said that patience is the companion of wisdom. If you shut your trap and listen, you might learn something."(Agatha's dialogue)Tony Savoldi: "Dad, you're not going to send him on that same wild goose chase?"(Tony Savoldi's dialogue)Melody Larkin: Dispatch and "piece of work."Lenny's character description: "{102}{}{Hoo-boy - this lad's a piece of work. Besides the fact he's green and ugly, he's got more scars on him than an old whore. This one's a fighter, for sure.}"(Lenny's dialogue)Local: ""(Locals' dialogue)The Sole Survivor: "If your daughter was that stupid, she got what she deserved."Blake Abernathy: ""(Blake Abernathy's dialogue)Liebowitz: "... you're a real piece of work. Fine. Take them. I hope you get your throat slit."(Liebowitz' dialogue)
* One of Dane's ramblings, demanding that he be brought a horse, is actually a reference to Shakespeare's Richard III; specifically, the famous line "My kingdom for a horse!"Dane: "{113}{}{I want a horse! I need a horse! Bring me a horse, dammit! A horse!}"(Dane's dialogue)
* Arcade Gannon paraphrases a line from The Merchant of Venice. The line "Caesar can cite Cato to suit his purposes" is a paraphrase of the quote "The devil can cite scripture for his purpose" from Act 1, Scene 3 of The Merchant of Venice.The Courier: "Isn't that the language that Caesar's Legion speaks?"Arcade Gannon: "Caesar can cite Cato to suit his purpose. Many people have spoken Latin. Some of them were quite pleasant. It's unfortunate that the language is now associated with the gentlemen across the river."(Arcade Gannon's dialogue)
* Dean Domino will try to paraphrase a line from Hamlet when talking about the ghost people before giving up.The Courier: "Where did they come from?"Dean Domino: ""(Dean Domino's dialogue)
* Doctor Mobius misquotes the line "Et tu, Brute?" from Shakespeare's Julius Caesar in one of his broadcasts to the Crater, instead saying "Et tu, Brutus?"Doctor Mobius: "Is this thing on? This is Mobius - Dr. Mobius. We're... initiating some kind of emergency test shutdown... in five... Four, as in Forbidden... Three, as in tree... Two, as in "Et Two, Brutus?"... One, as in . "(Mobius' dialogue)
** Arcade Gannon also references the same line when alluding to the death of the historical Gaius Julius Caesar and the possibility of "recreating" it with Edward Sallow.The Courier: "Once we get close to Caesar, we can strike."Arcade Gannon: " I have to commend you on your sense of historical propriety, but have you given more than a passing thought to how we would escape? No disrespect intended, but you aren't the first person to dream up the idea. Just give me a sign when you're about to pull out the dagger so I know when to make a run for the cliffs."(Arcade Gannon's dialogue)
* Nick Valentine quotes Shakespeare several times:
** Nick says "Welcome to the Brave New World... with such people in it," a reference to the quote "O' Brave New World, with such people in it" from Act 5, Scene 1 of The Tempest.The Sole Survivor: "What do you remember about the Institute?"Nick Valentine: "It's all pretty hazy from back then, but now and then I get glimpses. Life inside the Institute... they keep you isolated. A single test chamber was my whole world for years. And someone was always watching. Then one day you wake up on the other side. And that's it. They've cut you loose. Welcome to the Brave New World... with such people in it."(Nick Valentine's dialogue)
** He also invokes Hamlet by saying "Clothes make the man," a reference to the quote "The apparel oft proclaims the man" from Act 1, Scene 3 of Hamlet.The Sole Survivor: "What's with the outfit?"Nick Valentine: "After I started the agency it just seemed like the sorta thing a detective ought to wear. I got some old memories, prewar, faded to all heck, of guys dressed like this, doin' what I do. Puttin' on the hat and trenchcoat, I figured it let folks know I was serious about the whole thing. "Clothes make the man" and all that. Guess I felt they made me the man I wanted to be."(Nick Valentine's dialogue)
** Another Hamlet quote appears if the Sole Survivor kills Skinny Malone during Unlikely Valentine, when Nick says "Good night, sweet prince. Here's to all the old days," a reference to the final scene of the play.Nick Valentine: "Good night, sweet prince. Here's to all the old days."(Nick Valentine's dialogue)
* Radio play actor Rex Goodman was imprisoned by super mutants in 2287 when he attempted to civilize them by reading from Shakespeare's works; Rex mentions the author by name.The Sole Survivor: "What were you doing up there?"Rex Goodman: "I was attempting to teach those super mutants human culture. Trying to civilize them. I thought if they could just experience the majesty of Shakespeare, it would change them forever. And who better to open their eyes to the wonders of the Bard than Rex Goodman, the foremost actor in the world today?"(Rex Goodman's dialogue) One of these super mutants, Strong, now seeks out the "milk of human kindness," a quote from Macbeth (known as "Mack Beth" to Strong) which he believes is an actual item that is also the "secret to humans."The Sole Survivor: "Why do you want to find this milk of human kindness?"Strong: "Milk is secret to humans. Mack Beth say milk make humans strong. Stronger than super mutants. Strong find milk. Drink milk. Make super mutants stronger than humans."(Strong's dialogue) While descending Trinity Tower, Rex also quotes a number of Shakespeare's plays:
** "Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow." comes from Act 2, Scene 2 of Romeo and Juliet.
** "Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt." comes from Act 1, Scene 4 of Measure for Measure.
** "So wise so young, they say do never live long." comes from Act 3, Scene 1 of Richard III.
** "Hell is empty and all the devils are here." comes from Act 1, Scene 2 of The Tempest.
** "Let me embrace thee, sour adversity, for wise men say it is the wisest course." comes from Act 3, Scene 1 of Henry VI, Part 3.
** "Cowards die many times before their deaths; the valiant never taste of death but once." comes from Act 2, Scene 2 of Julius Caesar.
** "I go, and it is done; the bell invites me." comes from Act 2, Scene 1 of Macbeth.
** "Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player, that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is here no more." comes from Act 5, Scene 5 of Macbeth.
* An excerpt from Macbeth can be acquired in-game as a paper note .
* Neighborhood Watch members reference Shakespeare as "the Bard" in idle dialogue after completing Curtain Call.Neighborhood Watch: "Heard what you did. Saved that Rex Goodman from the Super Mutants? Guess not everyone appreciates the Bard, am I right."(Neighborhood Watch's dialogue)
* The Hubris Comics terminal entries in Fallout 4 directly reference Shakespeare himself, with Aaron Babowski stating "We're not writing Shakespeare here. It's TV, right?"Hubris Comics terminal entries; writer's terminal, 10-20-77
* One of Deacon's combat taunts directly mentions Shakespeare, using his name as an adjective.Deacon: "Insert something Shakespearian involving death and your inevitable doom here."(Deacon's dialogue)
* The icon for the Roleplay public team type in Fallout 76 features Vault Boy dressed as Shakespeare.Vault Boy as Shakespeare
* In October 2077, the drama department of Watoga High School was holding auditions for a production of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, coordinated by Mr. Miller.Watoga High School announcer: "This is a reminder that auditions for 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' are after school next week Wednesday. You have until Tuesday to sign up with Mr. Miller."(School announcer's dialogue)
* In the note Tonight's entertainment, found in the Sanctum in the Pitt, a member of the Fanatics named Rosco is scheduled to perform a one-man reimagining of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.Tonight's entertainment
* One of the Smiling Man cryptid's idle lines is "Ah, but this is wondrous strange." This is a quote from William Shakespeare's Hamlet, act 1 scene 5, in which the eponymous main character says, "O day and night, but this is wondrous strange!"
* In the episode "The Head," Davey from Vault 33 offers to teach the captured prisoners from Lee Moldaver's raiders about Shakespeare and Marlowe. Marianne replies by saying that Shakespeare may be too advanced for them.
* The item description for the republic robes in Fallout Shelter references the quote "Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears," from Act 3, Scene 2 of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar.
* Dialogue from Vault dwellers and other characters in Fallout Shelter quote Shakespeare, including "Once more unto the breach, dear friends," and "have at thee."
==Appearances==
William Shakespeare is mentioned by name only and the Fallout TV series episode "The Head," though references to him and his works also exist in Fallout, Fallout: New Vegas and its add-on Old World Blues, Fallout 76 and Fallout Shelter.
==Behind the scenes==
* The name of the Old World Blues quest What's in a Name? is a reference to a line in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.
* Both Fallout 4 and Fallout 76 feature a facial hair option named "The Bard," in reference to Shakespeare's iconic goatee.
* The Wastelanders quest All That Glitters is derived from the common expression "All that glitters is not gold" which in turn comes from Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice.
* The name of the Creation Club quest Method to the Madness is a reference to a common saying that originated from Shakespeare's Hamlet.
* Romero and Julianna, characters cut from Fallout, would have been involved in a quest that heavily referenced Romeo and Juliet.
* The Bloomfield Space Center design document for Van Buren describes Kyle "The Hook" as having "the eloquence of a junior-high drama student pretending to know and quote the great works of Shakespeare."
==Gallery==
Fallout Magic Strong, the Brutish Thespian.png|Magic: The Gathering featuring Strong in a makeshift rendition of Hamlet
Fallout Magic Strong, the Brutish Thespian Extended Art.png
==References==
Category:Fallout 4 mentioned-only human characters
Category:Historical figures