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Shrift is the noun form of the verb to shrive, which means to be forgiven. In Shakespeare, it refers exclusively to the sacrament of confession in Catholicism. Thus when Hamlet fakes the death-warrant for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern he says they should be "put to sudden death, no shriving time allowed", that is, not allowing them the sacrament of confession, so they must go to purgatory, rather than to heaven.

In Romeo and Juliet, the Nurse asks "have you got leave to go to shrift today?" which means "Do you have permission to go to confession?". Shrift, or confession, was the only excuse Juliet could use to get out of the house, and she uses it twice, to get married and to consult with Friar Lawrence.

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14y ago

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