Thou shalt have MOONSHINE in the mustard pot (water pot) for it

Insights

Illusory Reward

The proverb signifies a deceptive or illusory reward. It warns that for one's efforts, the promised payment or outcome will be completely without substance, akin to trying to possess a reflection.

Futility and Emptiness

It suggests the absolute futility of an endeavor. The result of the action will be something entirely useless and meaningless, highlighting that the effort was wasted for a non-existent gain.

Mockery of Expectation

The saying is a form of mockery or dismissal, implying that someone's expectations of a reward are foolish and they will receive nothing of tangible value for their troubles.

Symbolism of Illusion

The moon has long been a symbol of illusion, madness (lunacy), and the intangible. The proverb leverages this symbolism to describe a reward that is ephemeral and worthless, existing only as a fleeting image rather than a substantive gain.

Psychology of Disappointment

The proverb speaks to the psychological sting of receiving a hollow victory or an empty promise. The use of a mundane 'mustard pot' grounds the abstract concept of deception in a familiar, domestic context, making the sense of disappointment more acute and relatable.

Cultural Warning

This proverb serves as a rustic and vivid warning against being duped by false promises. It reflects a pre-modern understanding of social and economic deception, where natural imagery was used to convey complex abstract ideas like worthlessness and futility. The 1678 gloss by Ray explicitly defining it as 'Nothing' confirms its long-standing interpretation.

Rhetorical Devices

Metaphor

'Moonshine' serves as a powerful metaphor for anything that is illusory, intangible, and ultimately worthless. It transforms a natural reflection into a symbol of deceit.

Imagery

The striking and unusual image of a celestial body's reflection captured in a common mustard pot creates a memorable and slightly absurd picture, effectively conveying the ridiculousness of the 'reward'.

Irony

The proverb uses irony by contrasting a container meant for a tangible, pungent substance (mustard) with its absurdly intangible contents (a reflection), highlighting the hollowness of the promise.