Introduction and Shock G Tribute

• Josh and Chuck discuss Humpty Dumpty on "Short Stuff" podcast
• Tribute to Shock G (Humpty Hump from Digital Underground) who died in April
  • Known for "The Humpty Dance" MTV hit
  • Digital Underground was more than just novelty act
  • Recommended track: "Risky Business" with MERS

Humpty Dumpty as Original Riddle

• Traditional nursery rhyme: "Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall, all the king's horses and all the king's men couldn't put Humpty together again"
• Originally meant to be riddle - answer was "an egg"
• Over time riddle was solved for audiences, lost riddle format
• First appeared in book form 1797 in "Juvenile Amusement" by Samuel Arnold
  • Original third line: "four score men and four score more" (instead of "all the king's horses and all the king's men")

Theory 1: King Richard III

• Richard III ruled England ~26 months, died at Battle of Bosworth
• Shakespeare depicted him as "poisonous humpback toad" - historically unfair portrayal
• Richard III actually fought corruption, enacted anti-bribery laws
• Last English king to die in battle
• Had horse named "Wall" - fell off horse, was bludgeoned
• Connection: "sat on wall" = fell off horse, "couldn't put together again" = died in battle
• Chuck's preferred theory

Theory 2: Cardinal Wolsey

• 1803 version in "Mother Goose's Melody" depicted tubby child character
• British satire magazine "Punch" suggested Humpty symbolized Cardinal Wolsey
• Wolsey failed to secure divorce from Pope for Henry VIII, fell from favor
• Chuck skeptical - too politically nuanced for children's nursery rhyme

Lewis Carroll's Influence (1871)

• "Through the Looking Glass" featured dedicated Humpty Dumpty chapter
• Alice clearly identifies character as egg-person hybrid
• First explicit depiction as egg (no longer riddle)
• Illustrator John Tenniel drew egg with pants, face, arms, legs
• Different final line: "couldn't put Humpty Dumpty in his place again" (no breaking)
• Established modern visual conception of Humpty Dumpty

Theory 3: Alcoholic Drink

• First appearance of "Humpty Dumpty" in print: 1690 slang dictionary
• Defined as ale boiled with brandy
• Strong beer called "hum" - possible connection to "Humpty Dumpty"
• Modern cocktail recipe:
  • 1 oz brandy
  • 1.5 oz pale ale
  • 0.25 oz lemon juice
  • Dash angostura bitters
  • Stir with ice 15 seconds, strain, garnish with lemon peel