This week the girls take aim at Famous Last Words...
The last words uttered by a person before they die are special to those who hear them. However, in some cases, they are simply hilarious and this week we celebrate some famous last words...
But first, what were we drinking?
Bianca was drinking Tobacco Road Merlot
Available from BWS
Sarah was drinking nothing, it's ok not to drink (especially when your doctor says not to).
Available from home.
Amy was drinking Wiley Rooster Merlot
Bianca introduced the topic this week with a few famous last words that are often mondegreened... you know how we all love a mondegreen.
First off:
Johann Wolfgang Goethe
Who Was He: Johann was a German poet, playwright, novelist, scientist, statesman, theatre director, and critic. His works include plays, poetry, literature and aesthetic criticism, and treatises on botany, anatomy, and color. He is considered to be the greatest German literary figure of the modern era.
”More light!”(”Mehr licht!”)
Throughout his life, Johann Wolfgang Goethe was often fascinated by the physical and philosophical effects of the light on human beings. This may lead us to believe, that it was a last plea for greater enlightenment before his death, however, these alleged last words of Goethe, were a result of misinterpretation. Moments before his death, Goethe actually said: "Please open the second window of the bedroom so that more light can enter."
And secondly, Bianca had:
Gaius Julius Caesar
Who Was He: Roman general, statesman, and consul
“And you too, Brutus?”(”Et Tu, Brute?”)
Although this sounds like the perfect dramatic thing Julius Caesar could say moments before his brutal death, the truth appears to be more prosaic. According to historical evidence, he never said these famous last words at the moment of his assassination.
The ancient Roman historian Plutarch reports, that Caesar didn’t say anything and just pulled his toga over his head when he saw Marcus Brutus in the group of conspirators. The fame of this alleged Caesar’s quote is mostly attributed to its occurrence in the theatrical play Julius Caesar, by William Shakespeare, written in 1599.
Thirdly:
Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus
Who Was He: Roman Emperor
“What a great artist the world loses in me!”(Qualis Artifex Pereo!)
Emperor Nero, who lived during the Imperial era of ancient Rome, indeed considered himself a great artist. Apparently for that were these last words attributed to Nero by the ancient Roman historian Suetonius.
In reality, Nero, when he was finally found by the Praetorians in the puddle of his own blood, had already slashed his trachea and was so weakened by his unsuccessful suicide attempt, that he probably managed only to incoherent babbling sounds.
In addition, according to numerous writings by his biographers, his alleged last words were not “What a great artist the world loses in me!”, but instead ”What a fidelity!”, after one of the centurions removed the dagger from his wound, and tried to stop bleeding with his tunic. Nero didn’t know, that the centurion had been ordered to bring him to the jury alive.
And Lastly:
Dylan Thomas
Who Was He: Welsh poet and writer
“I’ve had 18 straight whiskies. I think that’s the record!”
Famous Welsh poet Dylan Thomas reportedly said these words. However, according to available witnesses, he didn’t say them on the day of his death, but right after he returned from his last bender in Hotel Chelsea, New York. He died a few weeks later, as a direct result of his long-term alcohol abuse.
Then Bianca moved on to some funny famous last words;
James French, convicted murderer (before his execution)
“Hey fellas! How about this for a headline for tomorrow’s paper? ‘French fries!'”
Chico Marx
Leonard Joseph "Chico" Marx was an American comedian, musician, and actor. He was the oldest brother and a member of the Marx Brothers
“Remember, Honey, don’t forget what I told you. Put in my coffin a deck of cards, a mashie niblick*, and a pretty blonde.”
*Bianca was most upset to find out that a "mashie niblick" is a golf club and not a snack.
John Sedgwick, general of the Union Army (as he was shot mid-sentence)
“They couldn’t hit an elephant at this dist—”
Humphrey Bogart, actor
“I should have never switched from scotch to martinis.”
Voltaire, philosopher (after a priest asked if he wished to denounce Satan)
“Now is not the time for making new enemies.”
W.C Fields, actor (when asked why he was reading the Bible)
“I’m looking for loopholes.”
And lastly, the reason Bianca suggested this topic;
Thomas de Mahy, marquis de Favras (March 26, 1744 – February 19, 1790) was a French aristocrat and supporter of the House of Bourbon during the French Revolution. Often seen as a martyr of the Royalist cause, Favras was executed for his part in "planning against the people of France" under the Comte de Provence. His last words which he said deadpan to the judge upon reading his death sentence warrant.
"I see that you have made three spelling mistakes,"
A grammar nazi Bianca can relate to wholeheartedly.
Amy started her research by googling famous last words and like her co-hosts, she found many funny ones. However, it was the last words of a famous Jazz drummer, Buddy Rich, which struck a chord with her.
This lead Amy to do some research on the life of this famous drummer and she discovered that she shared many personality traits with Buddy. Buddy's last words expressed his detest for a certain genre of music which Amy also doesn't like so she felt a kinship with the late drummer.
Sarah couldn't decide on just one or two sets of famous last words. After reading through some amazing articles on the internet she decided to pay her respects to many.
Sarah discussed the last words of famous people such as Elvis Presley, Jean-Paul Sartre, Nostradamus, Marie Antoinette, Leonardo Da Vinci, Joan Crawford, and Sir Winston Churchill.
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AKA Karma Points
