Geese

30th December 2023

All the contagion of the south light on you,

You shames of Rome! You herd of - Boils and plagues

Plaster you o’er, that you may be abhored

Farther than seen, and one infect another

Against the wind a mile! You souls of geese,

That bear the shapes of men, how have you run

From slaves that apes would beat!

MARTIUS: Coriolanus, Act 1, Scene 4

GEESE (Domestic) (Anser anser)

Geese both domesticated and wild make various appearances in Shakespeare. There are numerous references to Wild Geese but also to Geese in pens and sold at market, the domesticated kind. Goose is often used to suggest foolishness. Goose pens and quills made from Goose feathers are mentioned, as are the ‘Winchester Geese’, or the prostitutes who were licensed to work in the brothels of Southwark in London, which was under the control of the Bishop of Winchester.

Domesticated Geese are closely related to the Wild Greylag Goose (Anser anser). The British Waterfowl Association recognises 16 standardised breeds of domestic Geese in Britain, of which 4 are probably indigenous to Britain: the Brecon Buff, the Shetland, the Pilgrim and the West of England Goose.

If you want to find out the different ways that Shakespeare includes Geese and other species you can enter the search terms, ‘Geese’ or ‘Goose’ in the Folger Library online searchable Shakespeare. You can also look at variations in the usage and different spellings by searching the different versions, including the First Folio, at the University of Victoria California.

More Information

British Trust for Ornithology BTO: Greylag Goose

The British Waterfowl Association: Domesticated Geese

RSPB: Greylag Goose

Winchester Heritage: Lucy Coleman Talbot on Winchester Geese