take by the scruff of the neck and... (2024)

C

chobalsim

Banned

India-Hindi

  • Jun 26, 2006
  • #1

Hotspur is designed to contrast with young Harry Monmouth's dissolute pub-crawling. Hotspur takes himself by the scruff of the neck and appears fully rounded: hotheaded, angry but beguiling and straghtforward.

I've seen the expression "take oneself by the scruff of the neck" in other texts. But the expression seems to be used here in other meaning. Above sentence tells on the general information on Hotspur's characteristic. Then what does the bold sentence mean?

  • M

    maxiogee

    Banned

    English

    • Jun 26, 2006
    • #2

    chobalsim said:

    Hotspur is designed to contrast with young Harry Monmouth's dissolute pub-crawling. Hotspur takes himself by the scruff of the neck and appears fully rounded: hotheaded, angry but beguiling and straghtforward.

    I've seen the expression "take oneself by the scruff of the neck" in other texts. But the expression seems to be used here in other meaning. Above sentence tells on the general information on Hotspur's characteristic. Then what does the bold sentence mean?

    I think the meaning behind Hotspur "taking himself by the scruff of the neck" is to say that he takes himself as roughly as he takes life - in contrast to Prince Hal, who is not prepared to be responsible for himself and is basically still a child at this point in the play.

    C

    chobalsim

    Banned

    India-Hindi

    • Jun 27, 2006
    • #3

    Thank you maxiogee.
    Then, does the expression, "appears fully rounded" have the same nuiance?

    Ed the Editor

    Senior Member

    Colorado Springs, Colorado U.S.A.

    U.S.A., English

    • Jun 27, 2006
    • #4

    chobalsim said:

    Hotspur is designed to contrast with young Harry Monmouth's dissolute pub-crawling. Hotspur takes himself by the scruff of the neck and appears fully rounded: hotheaded, angry but beguiling and straghtforward.

    I've seen the expression "take oneself by the scruff of the neck" in other texts. But the expression seems to be used here in other meaning. Above sentence tells on the general information on Hotspur's characteristic. Then what does the bold sentence mean?

    Hi Chobalism,

    "The scruff of the neck" is the part in back that a mother cat uses to carry a kitten around. Using that as a metaphor, "to take [a person] by the scruff of the neck" means to "pull them up short" -- to grab them, take them away from whatever they were doing, and take control over them.

    So, if Hotspur takes himself by the scruff of the neck, I'd say that it means that he's trying to control himself. Since he's a tempermental and "hot-headed" person, that's not something that he does very often!

    As for "appears fully rounded," when that is applied to a person, it usually means that they are developing their personality to include virtues or abilities that they have not had before.

    So, after taking himself by the scruff of the neck (getting control of himself), Hotspur develops some other virtues that make him a more fully developed person. I don't remember Shakespeare's Henry plays well enough to say exactly what he does, but that's what I think the phrase points to.

    Sorry for the length of this. I hope it's useful.

    Regards,
    Ed

    brian

    Senior Member

    Montréal

    AmE (New Orleans)

    • Jun 27, 2006
    • #5

    chobalsim said:

    Hotspur is designed to contrast with young Harry Monmouth's dissolute pub-crawling. Hotspur takes himself by the scruff of the neck and appears fully rounded: hotheaded, angry but beguiling and straghtforward.

    I agree with Ed. Hotspur is in control of his own actions. The last sentence of your quote explains the contrast with Prince Hal: both characters have equally undesireable traits--Hotspur is hotheaded/short-tempered, while Hal is mischievous, undisciplined, and childish--but Hotspur's ability to "take himself by the scruff" allows him to control his temper and concentrate on his tasks at hand, whereas Hal has no self-control in the earlier parts of I Henry IV (is that the right play?).

    As for "rounded," in literature there are a number of ways to describe characters. A character can be "round" or "flat," and "static" or "dynamic." A "round" character is multi-dimensional, has many traits (both good and bad), and is generally a deeper and more interesting person. A "flat" character is the opposite--he can be described in just about one word. A "dynamic" character is one who changes somehow throughout the play, and a "static" character is one that remains the same throughout the play. Thus, Hotspur is generally a "round" character throughout the play, but (from what I remember) rather "static." Prince Hal, on the other hand, is "flat" in the beginning but is "dynamic" since he gains more characteristic qualities and eventually becomes "round."

    Brian

    C

    chobalsim

    Banned

    India-Hindi

    • Jun 27, 2006
    • #6

    Thank you so much, Ed the Editor and brian8733.
    I read your answers many times.
    Your long and addtional explanations are great help to me.
    Thank you.

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