Shakespeare's Use of ProfanityThe evolution of written profanity began around the 16th century and continues to change with each generation it sees. Profanity is recognized in many Shakespearean works and has continually evolved into the profane language used today. Some curse words have somehow retained their original meaning over hundreds of years, while many others have completely changed meaning or simply fallen into disuse. William Shakespeare, although not widely taught, was not a very clean writer. In fact, he was a bit of a potty mouth. His works encompass many things that some wish they did not have. "This includes a fair share of sex, violence, crime, horror, politics, religion, anti-authoritarianism, anti-Semitism, racism, xenophobia, sexism, jealousy, profanity, satire and controversies of all kinds” (Macrone 6). In his day, religious and moral curses were more offensive than biological curses. Most of the original Shakespearean works (before being censored) contain very offensive profanity, mainly religious, which is probably one of the many reasons why his works were and are so popular. "Shakespeare pushed a lot of buttons in his time, which partly explains his phenomenal popularity. Despite what you're told, people like having their buttons pushed" (Macrone 6). Because his works contained many of these profane words or expressions, they were censored to protect the innocent minds of adolescents who are required to read them, and also because they were blasphemous and offensive. Almost all the profanity was removed, and that wasn't a good reason to be there. Some of the bard's censored oaths are: "God's blessing upon your beard" Love's Labors Lost, II.i.203. This was a very crude curse because a man's facial hair was a source of pride for him. and “playing with someone’s beard” was tantamount to insulting them. “The body of God”1 Henry IV, II.i.26 Swearing by the body of Christ (or any part of it) was forbidden in civil discourse. parents, man"Hamlet, II.ii.529The word bod(y)kin means "little body" or "dear body", but the addition of the pretty little suffix does not make this curse any more acceptable." By the [blessed] mother of God!"2 Henry VI, II.i;3 Henry VI, III.ii;Henry VIII, V.iSwearing by the virgin was almost as rude as swearing by one's son, especially when one addressed a Catholic cathedral as Gloucester did in 2 Henry VI, II..