Author/s: W. G. K. Duncan
Edition: Volume 50, Number 3, November 2010
Summary: I was reminded of my schoolboy days when I read the opening words of the first number of the Newsletter, to be issued quarterly by the Australian Association of Adult Education. In our textual study of Macbeth (does this sort of thing still go on?), we were asked to say what punctuation mark we thought most appropriate after Lady Macbeth’s famous words ‘We fail’, when trying to screw her husband’s courage to ‘the sticking place’. A question mark, indicating that the possibility of failing had never occurred to her before? A full stop, suggesting resignation, or fatalism? An exclamation mark—to be accompanied by a scornful tone of voice? Which of these alternatives fitted in best with our conception of Lady Macbeth’s character? I plumped for the exclamation mark. (The edition I now have gives a colon—that would have floored us!)
The opening words of the Newsletter were simply “WE ARE!”—and I wondered whether the Editor had used the exclamation mark to indicate surprise, relief, triumphant satisfaction at difficulties overcome, or a sense of exhilaration at future prospects.
Keywords: Adult Learning Australia, Australian Association of Adult Education, relevance, future
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This article is part of AJAL, Volume 50_3. The entire volume is available in .pdf for purchase here.