Pulling In Historical Text

The Bible

Ezra 9:3 (Old Testament)

When I heard this, I tore my tunic and cloak, pulled hair from my head and beard and sat down appalled.

Isaiah 50 v6

I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting.

Luke 12: 6-8

"Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows."

Shakespeare

Much Ado About Nothing (Play, 1599)
Act 2, Scene 3


Claudio:
Then down upon her knees she falls, weeps, sobs, beats her heart, tears her hair, prays, curses 'O sweet Benedick! God give me patience!'

The Tragedy Of Romeo And Juliet (Play, 1595)
Act 3, Scene 3

Romeo:
Then mightst thou speak, then mightst thou tear thy hair,
And fall upon the ground, as I do now,
Taking the measure of an unmade grave.

Other Shakespeare references to hair pulling:

The Tragedy Of Titus Andronicus (Play, 1594)
Act 3, Scene 1

The Rape of Lucrece (Poem, 1594)
line 1120

The Life and Death of King John (Play, 1597)
Act 3, Scene 4


Homer's The Illiad (c.750 BC) (Lang et al. 1945, pp. 165-166)

"... but whensoever to the ships he glanced and to the host of Achaians, then rent he many a clean lock forth from his head, to Zeus that is above, and gently moaned his noble heart."


"The Discourses" by Epictetus (101 AD), Book 3, Chapter 1

"Indeed I think that the men who pluck out their hairs do what they do without knowing what they do."


"The Discourses" by Epictetus (101 AD), Book 3, Chapter 22

"But neither was Agamemnon happy, though he was a better man than Sardanapalus and Nero; but while others are snoring what is he doing? 'Much from his head he tore his rooted hair.' And what does he say himself? 'I am perplexed,' he says, 'and disturbed I am,' and 'my heart out of my bosom is leaping.'"


Chinese Proverb

You cannot prevent the birds of sorrow from flying over your head, but you can prevent them from building nests in your hair. (prevent growing hair by pulling)

In India there is an age-old expression which translates as, "I got so frustrated, I plucked the hair of my head."


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