To come of the same EGG (nest)

Insights

Shared Ancestry and Traits

The most common metaphorical meaning is that individuals share the same family, heritage, or upbringing. It implies that they possess similar inherent traits, behaviors, or dispositions because they come from the same 'stock'.

Common Intellectual or Ideological Source

The proverb can also refer to individuals who share a common source of training, education, or ideology. People who are products of the same institution or movement are seen as being 'of the same nest', expected to think and act alike.

Inherent Nature and Predictability

It suggests that one's fundamental character is inextricably linked to their origins. The phrase is often used to explain why someone acts a certain way by pointing to their background, implying that their nature is a direct and predictable outcome of their source.

Divergent Fates from a Common Source

Drawing from the myth of Leda, the proverb can ironically highlight that a single origin can produce morally divergent offspring (e.g., Helen and Castor). This adds a layer of complexity, suggesting that while the source is the same, the manifestations can be wildly different.

Classical Allusion and Duality

The proverb is deeply enriched by its connection to the classical myth of Leda and the swan, as referenced by Renaissance authors like Ascham and Lyly. Leda's egg produced both the celebrated hero Castor and the infamous Helen of Troy, illustrating that a common origin can yield vastly different, even contradictory, outcomes—a nuance that adds significant depth to the proverb.

Psychological Determinism

The proverb reflects a deterministic worldview, suggesting that character and destiny are fundamentally shaped by one's ancestry and upbringing. Ben Jonson's quote, 'It runs in a blood, I see!', perfectly captures this sentiment, highlighting a cultural belief in hereditary traits that predates modern genetics.

Intellectual and Ideological Origin

Beyond family, the proverb is applied to shared education or ideology, as noted in the annotations ('brought up under one mayster, or in one schoole'). It implies that people 'hatched' from the same intellectual or ideological 'nest' will inevitably share core beliefs and behaviors.

Social Judgment and Stereotyping

The phrase often functions as a social shortcut for judgment, attributing the qualities of one person to another based on their shared background. This can carry a prejudicial undertone, implying that an individual is inseparable from the reputation of their family or group.

Rhetorical Devices

Metaphor

The central device is the metaphor comparing human origins to birds hatching from a single egg or nest, effectively conveying the idea of a shared, foundational source.

Symbolism

The 'egg' and 'nest' are powerful symbols for origin, family, and upbringing. They encapsulate the entire complex of hereditary and environmental factors that shape an individual in a simple, potent image.

Classical Allusion

Educated usage of the proverb in the Renaissance, as seen in the quotations, often carries a sophisticated allusion to the classical myth of Leda, Jupiter, and the egg, enriching its meaning with themes of fate and duality.