Wyrd Sisters Discussion *Spoilers*

[Tonyblack]

I don't think I brought this up in this discussion, but I meant to, and my current signature - Wyrd bið ful āræd* - reminded me of it.

The title - Wyrd Sisters has a meaning that some readers might not have 'got'.

Wyrd is an Anglo-Saxon word meaning 'fate'.

Here's the Wikipedia for Wyrd.

In Norse mythology the Fates, or Norns were three female weavers who controlled the destiny of men.

The whole idea of Wyrd Sisters refers to this I think - with our trio playing that role. This is not just a Shakespearean allusion. It's a very clever title by Terry.


*Fate remains wholly inexorable

[raisindot]

Wow, you learn something new every day.

I had never thought about the title having any other references than the Shakespeare reference (with typical DW spelling).

[ChristianBecker]

I read that somewhere before. Well, that's one of the points I love in Terry. He's always doing those clever things you sometimes realize only later. I think someone called it fridge brilliance.

Three women personifying fate also appear in Greco-Roman mythology. The "Moirai" or "Parcae" are pretty much the same as the Wyrd sisters.

[Maura:-D]

I like this book. You first see the three witches together, and you see Granny Weatherwax in more detail.
Although I read the Tiffany books before the straight Discworld books, so I'd kinda met her already.... On that, I really liked the Tiffany books. Am only a teen, so when I want something easier going but still Pratchett, they're the ones I go for!

[nom*]

im coming in quite late on this discussion but anyway,

i don't think its essential to know all of Shakespeare's plays before reading this book, in fact one of the things i like the most about the discworld books is how you can be reading something for the 5th time and realise something new. or have great long discussions about them like this

my fave part of the book is where the Fool organises a bowl of water to be present where he and Margrat were to watch the play 'in case she wants to wash her hair'