Well, in this case, I happened to decide to google "pound of flesh" -- I knew it came from Shakespeare, but not really the CONTEXT except for a vague cultural understanding. This UK phrase site defined it as "Something which is owed that is ruthlessly required to be paid back." And the "ruthlessly" part made me think of revenge. In the case of this story, it's Rodney who requires HIMSELF to get revenge on the creature (or one like it) that took his mother, so it's really a twisted kind of take on the phrase, I know.
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Re: creepy story
Date: 2008-07-21 10:43 pm (UTC)Well, in this case, I happened to decide to google "pound of flesh" -- I knew it came from Shakespeare, but not really the CONTEXT except for a vague cultural understanding. This UK phrase site defined it as "Something which is owed that is ruthlessly required to be paid back." And the "ruthlessly" part made me think of revenge. In the case of this story, it's Rodney who requires HIMSELF to get revenge on the creature (or one like it) that took his mother, so it's really a twisted kind of take on the phrase, I know.