Meaning & Analysis
Something is being compared to glass to emphasize its physical transparency, brightness, or luminosity. It means something is very easy to see through or shines brightly.
Insights
Honesty and Transparency
The proverb is used to describe a person, their motives, or their conscience as being completely honest, open, and without deceit. It signifies a character that has nothing to hide.
Certainty and Obviousness
It can refer to an idea, explanation, or situation that is perfectly understandable, unambiguous, and obvious. There is no room for confusion or doubt.
Purity and Innocence
The clarity of glass is used to symbolize a state of purity, innocence, or an unsullied nature. It conveys a sense of moral or spiritual flawlessness.
Historical Symbolism of Glass
The comparison to glass, particularly 'christall glasse' as cited by Spenser, reflects the high value placed on this material in the Early Modern period. Clear glass was a technological marvel and a luxury, making it a potent symbol for ultimate purity, truth, and high social or moral status.
Psychology of Certainty
The proverb taps into the psychological need for certainty and transparency. Describing a concept, person, or situation as 'clear as glass' provides reassurance by eliminating ambiguity and suggesting that the subject is easily understood and free from hidden complexities or deceit.
Implicit Fragility
While the primary meaning emphasizes clarity, the inherent fragility of glass adds a subtle layer of nuance. It implies that things which are perfectly transparent—like trust, innocence, or a good reputation—can also be delicate and easily shattered.
Rhetorical Devices
Simile
The proverb is a direct and explicit comparison using the word 'as', which is the defining characteristic of a simile.
Visual Imagery
It creates a powerful visual image of light passing through a transparent medium, making abstract concepts like honesty or certainty feel tangible and immediately understandable.
Hyperbole
The phrase is often used as a form of hyperbole to mean something is absolutely, perfectly clear, exaggerating for rhetorical effect and emphasis.
Transcription
Quotations
[It] is harde and clere as glasse.
As cleare as the christall glasse.
Brighter then the Glasse.
Galatea the paramour of Polyphemus had eies as bright as glasse.
It is as cleere as is the finest glasse.
She was Pure as the diamond, cleere as christall glasse.
Shakespeare Citations
Brighter than glass.
Related Proverbs
Original Scan
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