All the world's a stage

a brief analysis of the play "as you like it "
by William Shakespeare

1. All THE WORLD’S A STAGE BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

2. William Shakespeare was an English poet, playwright, and actor, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet, and the "Bard of Avon". His extant works, including collaborations, consist of approximately 38 plays, 154 sonnets. It is a monologue as it is taken from the Shakespeare’s play ‘As You Like It’, it is spoken by melancholy Jacques in act 2 scene 7 . Speech compares the world to a stage and life to a play and catalogues the seventh stage’s of a man life’s . Sometimes referred to as the seven age’s of a man - Infant ,schoolboy, lover, soldier , justice , pantaloon and an old age facing the death. It is Shakespeare’s most frequently quoted passages . The central idea of the poem is about life it’s comparison to the stage .The stage is the comparison of life with men and women as the player’s. The poem is written in free-verse which means no rhyme ,rhyming scheme and the pattern is unstructured . Author’s introduction

3. All the World’s a stage 1 st paragraph And all the men and women merely players , they have their exits and their entrances And one man in his time plays many parts , His acts being seven ages . Explanation In this para author compares the world with a platform on which and all men and women have arrived on it and will go after they had played their roles on the platform ,the acts that they will play is divided into seven phases. The central idea of the poem is about life it’s comparison to the stage .The stage is the comparison of life with men and women as the player’s .

4. At first ,the infant 1 st stage mewling and puking in the nurse’s arms . Explanation – In this stage the man plays the role of the new born baby is welcomed in this world and he is dependent on other’s for some time as he is crying and vomiting in nurse’s arms Till he is grown into a schoolboy . Words Mewling - Crying Puking - Vomiting

5. Then the whining schoolboy ,with his satchel 2 nd stage And shining morning face, creeping like snail Unwillingly to school . Explanation Childhood in this stage he begins to go to school but he is reluctant to leave the protected environment of his home as he is still not confident enough to exercise his own discretion . He is moving slowly with an unpleasant sound carrying his bag while going to school . Words Whining – An unpleasant sound Satchel- School bag Creeping – to move slowly

6. And then the lover 3 rd stage sighing like furnace , with woeful ballad made to his mistress eyebrows . Explanation Lover in this stage He writes a song in praise of her love , but he is always sad due to some other reasons specially because loss of his love .He tries to express his feelings through a sad story . Words Sighing – to inhale exhale a long deep breath. Woefu l - very bad Mistress- A woman

7. Then a soldier 4 th stage Full of strange oaths and bearded like the pard , jealous in honor , sudden and quick in quarrel ,Seeking the bubble reputation Even in the cannon’s mouth Explanation Soldier in this stage he thinks less of himself and begins to think more of others he is very easily aroused and he his short tempered. He is always working to make a reputation for himself and gaining reputation however short lived it may be , even at the loss of his life . He becomes fearless like tiger and blind to achieve the reputation which is short even he had to go in the mouth of the canon means to face great dangers for the reputation . Words Oaths – a formal promise to do something Pard - leopard Bubble reputation – span of importance or fame

8. And then the justice 5 th stage in fair round belly with good capon lined . with eyes severe and beard of formal cut , full of wise saws and modern instances and so he also plays his part . Explanation Justice in this stage he has acquired wisdom through many experiences he had in his life . He has reached a stage where he has gain prosperity and social status .He becomes very attentive of his looks and begins to enjoy the finest things in his life . He becomes mature and understand the way of life through his past experiences . Words Capon – A male chicken that has been castrated Severe – serious

9. The sixth age shifts Into the lean and slippered pantaloon, 6 th stage With spectacles on nose and pouch on side; His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide For his shrunk shank, and his big manly voice, Turning again toward childish treble, pipes And whistles in his sound . Explanation Old age in this stage he begins to loose his charm both physical and mental ,he begins to become the brunt of other’s jokes. He losses his firmness assertiveness and shrinks in his personality . Words Shank- Trunk Childish – child like Treble – childish high voice

10. Last scene of all 7 th stage That ends this strange eventful history, Is second childishness and mere oblivion, Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything. Explanation Second childhood in this stage he losses his status and he becomes a non-entity ,becomes dependent on other’s like a child and is in need of constant support before he finally dies . He losses his eyesight ,taste , and everything till he dies . Words Oblivion – forgetfulness Sans –without (French)

11. Conclusion The man in the poem goes through these stages Infancy in this stage a man play’s a role of a baby who cries and vomits in the nurse’s arms . A baby who just had arrived in this world and dependent on other’s . Childhood in this stage he begins to go to school but he is reluctant to leave the protected environment of his home as he is still not confident enough to exercise his own discretion . Lover in this stage he is always sad due to some other reasons specially because loss of his love .He tries to express his feelings through a sad story .

12. Soldier in this stage he thinks less of himself and begins to think more of others he is very easily aroused and he his short tempered. He is always working to make a reputation for himself and gaining reputation however short lived it may be , even at the loss of his life . Justice in this stage he has acquired wisdom through many experiences he had in his life . He has reached a stage where he has gain prosperity and social status .He becomes very attentive of his looks and begins to enjoy the finest things in his life . Old age in this stage he begins to loose his charm both physical and mental ,he begins to become the brunt of other’s jokes. He losses his firmness assertiveness and shrinks in his personality . Second childhood in this stage he losses his status and he becomes a non-entity ,becomes dependent on other’s like a child and is in need of constant support before he finally dies .

13. References As You Like It -William Shakespeare