What according to you the stages in a person’s life are as depicted in the poem ’Seven Ages’? Elaborate each stage.
Answers
According to the Seven Ages by Shakespeare, the world is a stage and each man is an actor on the stage. Each man plays seven roles during his life time. We can also say each man/woman passes through seven stages in his entire life.
In the first stage he plays the role of an infant when he is a newly born baby, crying, and vomiting in his nurse’s or mother’s arms.
In he second stage he plays the role of a school-going child. He is sent to school against his wish, with the heavy bag on his shoulders.
In the third stage he plays 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.
In the fourth stage he plays 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.In the fifth stage he plays 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.
In the sixth stage he plays 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.
In the last stage he plays 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.