It's from The Merry Wives of Windsor. It is thought to be a euphemism for "what the devil" - there is no connection with Charles Dickens, who was born some 200 years after Shakespeare died.
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The Merry Wives of Windsor
The Merry Wives of Windsor.
Shakespeare and Charles Dickens are two writers.
Merry Wives of Windsor, Act III Scene 2
The phrase "I cannot tell what the dickens his name is" comes from Shakespeare's play "The Tempest." It is spoken by the character Trinculo in Act 5, Scene 1, as he expresses confusion about the identity of Caliban. The term "dickens" is an old euphemism for the devil, used to convey surprise or perplexity.
Merry Wives of Windsor. It's the same play that gave us "the world's my oyster".
Charles Dickens and William Shakespeare
It's from the Merry Wives of Windsor, Act III Scene 2.
waht charcter says "i cannot tell what the dickens his name is "
Mrs. Page says it in The Merry Wives of Windsor.
Charles Dickens' favorite author was likely William Shakespeare. Dickens had a deep admiration for Shakespeare's works and often quoted or referenced them in his own writing.