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HelpRe: Let's talk about Thisbe
in reply to a message by Ninabella-Elisavette Covington
Th as in thistle. is as in is. be as in be. First syllable emphasised.
I've only ever seen it in the context of Pyramus and Thisbe, which was trite and shallow until Shakespeare jazzed it up. There's not much point in giving those two a happy ending! The story exists, like an early Just-So Story, to make an important lesson memorable; in this case, the message is: Don't jump to conclusions. Since they both did, with fatal results, they are memorable all right but not worth commemorating. I wouldn't use either name for a human, though Thisbe could be OK on a cat.
I've only ever seen it in the context of Pyramus and Thisbe, which was trite and shallow until Shakespeare jazzed it up. There's not much point in giving those two a happy ending! The story exists, like an early Just-So Story, to make an important lesson memorable; in this case, the message is: Don't jump to conclusions. Since they both did, with fatal results, they are memorable all right but not worth commemorating. I wouldn't use either name for a human, though Thisbe could be OK on a cat.
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Thisbe sees a lion with blood dripping from its jaws. She panics and runs away, dropping her veil as she goes. The lion chews it and wanders off. Pyramus arrives, to find a blood-stained veil and no Thisbe. Later, when she comes back, she finds him dead, and commits suicide herself.
So, she assumed (1) the lion was still hungry and she would be its next meal. She ran away without stopping to think: (2) lions can outrun people; (3) this one had just had a meal; if she'd stayed still and silent, it wouldn't have bothered with her. But, she attracted its attention by running, or perhaps it just played with the veil, feeling relaxed and happy and full. QED
So, she assumed (1) the lion was still hungry and she would be its next meal. She ran away without stopping to think: (2) lions can outrun people; (3) this one had just had a meal; if she'd stayed still and silent, it wouldn't have bothered with her. But, she attracted its attention by running, or perhaps it just played with the veil, feeling relaxed and happy and full. QED
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Oh. That makes sense. But if i saw a lioness, I would not take time to stop and think, I would be so scared that I would run away too!!! Haven't you heard of fight or flight mode? :D not that I would see a lioness today...
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