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'The World Is Your Oyster' Saying - Meaning & Context

nosweatshakespeare.com · 443 words · saved by 1 readers

‘The world is your oyster’ saying is often said to young people about to embark on adult life. It simply means that everything is open to one, and if one is lucky, they could encounter something special. The metaphor that informs the saying is that if you have an oyster there is a chance that there may be a pearl in it. A nice fresh oyster can be hard to open, but once opened it’s good. And perhaps it may have a pearl in it, which would be a valuable addition to one’s life. So when we set out to seek our fortune, the pearl is the good luck we may have. If we’re lucky we will find it. The saying has mysteriously evolved from its original appearance in Shakespeare’s comedy, The Merry Wives of Windsor. It’s slightly misquoted, as is so often the case with Shakespeare references that become English idioms. The actual quote is ‘The world’s mine oyster.’ Shakespeare re-introduces one of his most popular characters, Sir John Falstaff, as a con man, planning to con two Windsor women out of the

‘ The world is your oyster ’ saying is often said to young people about to embark on adult life. It simply means that everything is open to one, and if one is lucky, they could encounter something special. The metaphor that informs the saying is that if you have an oyster there is a chance that there may be a pearl in it. A nice fresh oyster can be hard to open, but once opened it’s good. And perhaps it may have a pearl in it , which would be a valuable addition to one’s life. So when we set out to seek our fortune, the pearl is the good luck we may have. If we’re lucky we will find it. ‘The W

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