Line by line summary of the seven ages by shakespeare
Answers
This extract from Shakespeare’s play ‘As You Like It’ describes each man’s life as a play in which he plays seven roles. According to the extract the world is a stage and each man is an actor on the stage. Each man plays seven roles during his life time. The first role is the role of an infant when he is a newly born baby, crying, and vomiting in his nurse’s or mother’s arms. The second role that he plays is the role of a school-going child. He is sent to school against his wish, with the heavy bag on his shoulders. The third role that he plays is the role of a lover when he writes sad ballads on the pride and indifference of his beloved who does not entertain his passions for her.
The fourth role he plays is the role of a soldier. He is quite temperamental at this stage. He loves honour and reputation. He keeps a beard like that of a leopard. He can even risk his life for the sake of honour and reputation. The fifth role he plays is the role of a justice. In this role he loves his food. He keeps a beard of formal cut. He is full of wise sayings, instances and teachings for the young children. The sixth role is the role of an old man. He becomes physically weak. He has to wear spectacles. His cheeks hang loose in wrinkles. His trousers and other dresses become loose for him. He loses his manly voice. He becomes childlike.
The last role is the role of an invalid. Man becomes extremely old, bed-ridden. None of his senses works properly. He can’t see, hear, eat, speak, or smell properly. He enters a world of oblivion. He is dependent on others as he was when he was infant.