The Monty Python witch duck sketch is a comedy skit that was featured in the film "Monty Python and the Holy Grail." In this sketch, a group of villagers accuses an innocent woman of being a witch and brings her to trial. The sketch begins with a medieval village where a group of villagers is gathered together. They believe that one of the women in the village is a witch and decide to test their theory. They fetch a duck and explain that witches weigh the same as a duck. The villagers then proceed to weigh the accused woman using the duck as a scale.

5 EXTERIOR - DAY

A village. Sound of chanting of Latin canon, punctuated by short, sharp cracks. It comes nearer. We see it is a line of MONKS ala SEVENTH SEAL flagellation scene, chanting and banging themselves on the foreheads with wooden boards. They pass a group of villagers who are dragging a beautiful YOUNG WOMAN dressed as a witch through the streets. They drag her to a strange house/ruin standing on a hill outside the village. A strange-looking knight stands outside, SIR BEDEVERE.

FIRST VILLAGER: We have found a witch. May we burn her?

ALL: A Witch! Burn her!

BEDEVERE: How do you know she is a witch?

ALL: She looks like one. Yes, she does.

BEDEVERE: Bring her forward.

They bring her forward - a beautiful YOUNG GIRL (MISS ISLINGTON) dressed up as a witch.

WITCH: I am not a witch. I am not a witch.

BEDEVERE: But you are dressed as one.

WITCH: They dressed me up like this.

ALL: We didn’t, we didn’t!

WITCH: This is not my nose, It is a false one.

BEDEVERE takes her nose off.

BEDEVERE: Well?

FIRST VILLAGER: … Well, we did do the nose.

BEDEVERE: The nose?

FIRST VILLAGER: And the hat. But she is a witch.

ALL: A witch, a witch, burn her!

BEDEVERE: Did you dress her up like this?

FIRST VILLAGER: … Um … Yes … no … a bit … yes… she has got a wart.

BEDEVERE: Why do you think she is a witch?

SECOND VILLAGER: She turned me into a newt.

BEDEVERE: A newt?

SECOND VILLAGER (After looking at himself for some time): I got better.

ALL: Burn her anyway.

BEDEVERE: Quiet! Quiet! There are ways of telling whether she is a witch.

ARTHUR and PATSY ride up at this point and watch what follows with interest.

ALL: There are? Tell up. What are they, wise Sir Bedevere?

BEDEVERE: Tell me … what do you do with witches?

ALL: Burn them.

BEDEVERE: And what do you burn, apart from witches?

FOURTH VILLAGER: … Wood?

BEDEVERE: So why do witches burn?

SECOND VILLAGER (pianissimo): … Because they’re made of wood…?

BEDEVERE: Good.

PEASANTS stir uneasily then come round to this conclusion.

ALL: I see. Yes, of course.

BEDEVERE: So how can we tell if she is made of wood?

FIRST VILLAGER: Make a bridge out of her.

BEDEVERE: Ah … but can you not also make bridges out of stone?

ALL: Ah. Yes, of course … um … err …

BEDEVERE: Does wood sink in water?

ALL: No, no, It floats. Throw her in the pond. Tie weights on her. To the pond.

BEDEVERE: Wait. Wait … tell me, what also floats on water?

ALL: Bread? No, no, no. Apples …. gravy … very small rocks …

ARTHUR: A duck.

They all turn and look at ARTHUR. BEDEVERE looks up very impressed.

BEDEVERE: Exactly. So… logically …

FIRST VILLAGER (beginning to pick up the thread): If she … weighs the same as a duck … she’s made of wood.

BEDEVERE: And therefore?

ALL: A witch! … A duck! A duck! Fetch a duck.

FOURTH VILLAGER: Here is a duck, Sir Bedevere.

BEDEVERE: We shall use my largest scales.

He leads them a few yards to a very strange contraption indeed, made of wood and rope and leather. They put the GIRL in one pan and the duck in another. Each pan is supported by a wooden stave. BEDEVERE checks each pan then … ARTHUR looks on with interest.

BEDEVERE: Remove the supports.

Two PEASANTS knock them away with sledge hammers. The GIRL and the duck swing slightly but balance perfectly.

ALL: A witch! A witch!

WITCH: It’s a fair cop.

ALL: Burn her! Burn her! Let’s make her into a ladder.

The VILLAGERS drag the girl away, leaving ARTHUR and BEDEVERE regarding each other admiringly.

BEDEVERE: Who are you who are so wise in the ways of science?

ARTHUR: I am Arthur, King of the Britons.

BEDEVERE: My liege … forgive me …

ARTHUR looks at PATSY with obvious satisfaction.

ARTHUR: Good Sir knight, will you come with me to Camelot, and join our number at the Round Table?

BEDEVERE: My liege, I am honored.

ARTHUR steps forward, drawing his sword, with a slight hint of difficulty.

ARTHUR: What is your name?

BEDEVERE: Bedevere, my Liege.

ARTHUR: Then I dub you … Sir Bedevere … Knight of the Round Table!

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Monty Python and the Holy Grail 1975

Director: Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones
Stars: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Runtime: 91 minutes

Could this be the funniest movie ever made? By any rational measure of comedy, this medieval romp from the Monty Python troupe certainly belongs on the short list of candidates. According to Leonard Maltin's Movie & Video Guide, it's "recom… more »

Sir Bedevere:
There are ways of telling whether she is a witch.

Peasant 1:
Are there? Oh well, tell us.

Sir Bedevere:
Tell me. What do you do with witches?

Peasant 1:
Burn them.

Sir Bedevere:
And what do you burn, apart from witches?

Peasant 1:
More witches.

Peasant 2:
Wood.

Sir Bedevere:
Good. Now, why do witches burn?

Peasant 3:
. because they're made of. wood?

Sir Bedevere:
Good. So how do you tell whether she is made of wood?

Peasant 1:
Build a bridge out of her.

Sir Bedevere:
But can you not also build bridges out of stone?

Peasant 1:
Oh yeah.

Sir Bedevere:
Does wood sink in water?

Peasant 1:
No, no, it floats. It floats! Throw her into the pond!

Sir Bedevere:
No, no. What else floats in water?

Peasant 1:
Bread.

Peasant 2:
Apples.

Peasant 3:
Very small rocks.

Peasant 1:
Cider.

Peasant 2:
Gravy.

Peasant 3:
Cherries.

Peasant 1:
Mud.

Peasant 2:
Churches.

Peasant 3:
Lead! Lead!

King Arthur:
A Duck.

Sir Bedevere:
. Exactly. So, logically.

Peasant 1:
If she weighed the same as a duck. she's made of wood.

Sir Bedevere:
And therefore.

Peasant 2:
. A witch!

A duck!

An aquatic bird that, in medieval times, was used to find out if a person was a witch or not.

This stems from the very logical idea that if a person weighs the same as a duck, then that person is made of wood (because both ducks and wood float in water). And since wood burns (just like witches) then that person must be a witch, because witches are made of wood.

Therefore, the accused person(s) would be placed on a scale next to a duck, and if they balanced, the person(s) would be burned.

The villagers then proceed to weigh the accused woman using the duck as a scale. However, the measuring process is absurdly flawed and biased. One villager, in particular, appears to have an agenda against the woman and tries to sway the results in favor of accusing her of being a witch.

A duck!

We found a witch! May we burn her?
A witch? How do you know she's a witch?
She turned me into a newt!
A newt.
I got better..
There is a simple way to figure out if she is a witch or not.
Witches burn, and what else burns?
Wood!
Yes, and wood floats. What else floats?
. A duck?
Yes! So if this woman weighs as much as a duck, than she is a witch!

The woman tries to protest her innocence, but the villagers ignore her, caught up in their misguided beliefs. As the sketch progresses, the absurdity of the situation becomes more evident. The villagers start using other bizarre methods, such as comparing the woman's nose to that of a duck and asking her to recite the rules of a witch's coven. These methods are obviously illogical and unfair, but the villagers are blinded by their fear and superstition. The Monty Python witch duck sketch is a satirical commentary on mob mentality, irrationality, and the dangers of blindly following tradition. It cleverly exposes the absurdity of witch trials and the flawed logic behind these practices. The sketch uses humor to criticize the narrow-mindedness and lack of critical thinking in society. Overall, the Monty Python witch duck sketch is a classic example of the unique style and wit of the Monty Python comedy troupe. It highlights their ability to use humor to address social and cultural issues, making their work timeless and widely acclaimed..

Reviews for "Examining the Socio-Political Commentary in Monty Python's Witch Duck Scene"

1. Jane Smith - 1 out of 5 stars

I couldn't believe how disappointing "Monty Python Witch Duck" was. The humor felt forced and the jokes fell flat. The storyline was all over the place and lacked cohesive direction. I found myself cringing at the attempts at comedy rather than laughing. Overall, I would not recommend this film to anyone looking for genuine laughs and a well-developed plot.

2. Jack Thompson - 2 out of 5 stars

I was really looking forward to watching "Monty Python Witch Duck" due to its cult following, but sadly, it did not live up to the hype. The humor seemed outdated and juvenile, and it relied heavily on slapstick comedy that I didn't find amusing. The characters lacked depth and the dialogue was unimaginative. Overall, I found the film to be a letdown and would not watch it again.

3. Rachel Johnson - 2 out of 5 stars

I watched "Monty Python Witch Duck" hoping for intelligent and clever comedy, but instead, I was met with a barrage of absurd and nonsensical jokes. The humor felt forced and relied too heavily on bizarre situations rather than witty writing. The film lacked a cohesive plot and failed to keep my attention. While I understand that Monty Python has a unique style, it just didn't hit the mark for me in this particular movie.

The Enduring Legacy of Monty Python's Witch Duck Skit