As You Like It, [“All the world’s a stage”]

 Speech: “All the world’s a stage”

BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

(from As You Like It, spoken by Jaques)

                                        All the world’s a stage,

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. At first the infant,

Mewling and puking in the nurse’s arms;

And then the whining school-boy, with his satchel

And shining morning face, creeping like snail

Unwillingly to school. And then the lover,

Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad

Made to his mistress’ eyebrow. Then a soldier,

Full of strange oaths, and bearded like the pard,

Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel,

Seeking the bubble reputation

Even in the cannon’s mouth. And then the justice,

In fair round belly with good capon lin’d,

With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,

Full of wise saws and modern instances;

And so he plays his part. 

The sixth age shifts

Into the lean and slipper’d pantaloon,

With spectacles on nose and pouch on side;

His youthful hose, well sav’d, a world too wide

For his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice,

Turning again toward childish treble, pipes

And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all,

That ends this strange eventful history,

Is second childishness and mere oblivion;

Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.

Speech: “All the world’s a stage”

BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

While William Shakespeare’s reputation is based primarily on his plays, he became famous first as a poet.

Understanding Shakespeare's "Seven Ages of Man" in Today's World.

The poem "The Seven Ages of Man" is a part of the play "As You Like It", where Jacques makes a dramatic speech in the presence of the Duke in Act II, Scene VII. Through the voice of Jacques, Shakespeare sends out a profound message about life and our role in it.

Shakespeare's Seven Ages of Man

All the world's a stage,

And all the men and women merely players,

They have their exits and entrances,

And one man in his time plays many parts,

His acts being seven ages. At first the infant,

Mewling and puking in the nurse's arms.

Then, the whining schoolboy with his satchel

And shining morning face, creeping like snail

Unwillingly to school. And then the lover,

Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad

Made to his mistress' eyebrow. Then a soldier,

Full of strange oaths, and bearded like the pard,

Jealous in honour, sudden, and quick in quarrel,

Seeking the bubble reputation

Even in the cannon's mouth. And then the justice

In fair round belly, with good capon lin'd,

With eyes severe, and beard of formal cut,

Full of wise saws, and modern instances,

And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts

Into the lean and slipper'd pantaloon,

With spectacles on nose, and pouch on side,

His youthful hose well sav'd, a world too wide,

For his shrunk shank, and his big manly voice,

Turning again towards childish treble, pipes

And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all,

That ends this strange eventful history,

Is second childishness and mere oblivion,

Sans (without) teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.

In this drama of life, each one of us plays seven distinct roles. This, the author says, is the Seven Ages of Man. These seven roles begin at birth and end with death.

Stage 1: Infancy

Birthmarks the entry of man in the first stage of life. An infant in the caretaker's arms is just a helpless child learning to survive. Babies communicate with us through their cries. Having been nourished in the womb of the mother, the baby learns to accept breast milk as its first food. Vomiting is common among all babies. Once a baby is breastfed, you need to burp the baby. In the process, babies throw up some milk. Since babies do nothing most of the day, other than crying and spitting up after feeding, Shakespeare says that the first stage of life is marked by these two activities.

Babies have been perceived as cute since the beginning of time. They feed and spit-up, and between these two activities, they also cry. A lot. Young parents know the drill even before they become parents. While babies continue to be puking and mewling little adorable beings, the difference between then and now is that raising babies is a concerted effort between the parents.

Stage 2: Schoolboy

At this stage of life, the child is introduced to the world of discipline, order, and routine. The carefree days of infancy are over, and schooling brings about a regimen in the life of a child. Naturally, the child takes to whining and complaining about the forced routine.

The concept of schooling has seen a great change since the time of Shakespeare. In Shakespeare's time, school was a forced practice usually overseen by the church. Depending on the status of the parents, a child went to either a grammar school or a monastic school. School began at sunrise and lasted the whole day. Punishments were common, and often harsh. 

Modern schools are quite unlike their ancient counterparts. While some kids still whine and complain about going to school, many actually love school because of the "play while you learn" approach to schooling. Modern-day schools have taken a holistic approach to education. Children are taught through role-plays, visual presentations, demonstrations, and games. Homeschooling is another option that most parents prefer to formal schooling. Also, with the abundance of online resources, modern education has extended the boundaries of learning.

Stage 3: Teenager

Teenagers in medieval times were accustomed to the social etiquette of wooing a lady. The teenager during Shakespeare's time pined for his lover, wrote elaborate verses of love ballads, and mooned over his object of desire. "Romeo and Juliet" is an icon of romance during the period of Shakespeare's. Love was sensual, deep, romantic, and full of grace and beauty.

Compare this love to the teen love of today. The modern age teen is technically savvy, well-informed, and romantically astute. They don't express their love in amorous love letters. Who does that in the age of texting and social media? Relationships are not as elaborate, or romantic as they were for the medieval teenager. The youth of today is far more individual-centric and independent than those in Shakespeare's time. Back in those days, relationships were nurtured towards matrimony. Nowadays, marriage is not necessarily the goal of every romantic affiliation, there is more sexual expression and less adherence to social structures such as monogamy.

However, despite all these differences, the teenager of today is as angsty as the teenager of the medieval time. They have to deal with unrequited love, heartbreak, and depression just as those in ancient times.

Stage 4: Youth

The next stage Shakespeare talks about in the poem is that of a young soldier. In old England, young men were trained for combat. The young soldier developed an attitude of brash courage, raw passion mixed with the impetuous temper that is characterized by unwarranted rebellion.

The youth of today have the same zeal and energy for rebellion. They are far more expressive, vocal, and assertive about their rights. Though the youth of today would not necessarily be enlisted for service in the army, they have enough avenues to form social groups to fight for a political or social cause. With social media platforms and the global reach of mass media, the young can reach their voice to the far corners of the world. A widespread reaction is almost instantaneous because of the global reach and effectiveness of propaganda. 

Stage 5: Middle Age

Middle age has hardly changed over the centuries. Middle age is the time when men and women settle down, and kids, family, and career take precedence over personal indulgences. Age brings wisdom and a sense of peaceful acceptance of realities of life. Idealistic values get pushed behind, while practical considerations become important. While the middle-aged man (and woman) of today have more options to further personal or professional interests, perhaps the medieval middle-aged man had fewer such options, and, not surprisingly, even less so the medieval woman.

Stage 6: Old Age

In medieval times, life expectancy hovered around 40, and a man of 50 would consider himself lucky to be alive. Depending on the social or economic class of the person, old age could be harsh or at best, ambivalent. Though the old were respected for their wisdom and experience, most old people suffered due to neglect and degeneration of physical and mental faculties. Those who were oriented towards religious pursuits fared better than the household man.

Today, life is alive and vibrant for a 40-year-old. Many senior aged people (starting in their 70s) in the modern era are still actively involved in social activities, secondary occupations, or hobbies. Also, there are good retirement plans and financial devices available to make old age comfortable. It is not so uncommon for a healthy and young-at-heart senior citizen to go on a trip around the world, enjoy gardening or golf, or even continue to work or pursue higher education if they so desire.

Stage 7: Extreme Old Age

What Shakespeare talks about in this stage of man is an extreme form of aging, where the person is no longer able to perform basic tasks such as bathing, eating, and going to the toilet. Physical frailty and incapacity no longer allow them the freedom to live unassisted. During Shakespeare's time, it was quite okay to treat old people as "senile." In fact, in the Elizabethan era, where enslavement and discrimination against women were highly prevalent, ageism was hardly considered a problem. Old people were treated as "little children," and as Shakespeare describes this stage as a second childhood, it was socially acceptable to treat the old with disdain.

Today's modern society is more humane and sensitive to seniors. Though ageism still exists and is prevalent in many spheres, with growing awareness, seniors "sans-without- teeth, sans eyes, and sans taste" still live with the dignity that ought to be afforded to the elderly.

                                   整个世界都是一个舞台，

所有的男人和女人都只是演员；

他们有退场和登场；

一个人在他的一生中扮演着许多角色，

他的表演涵盖了七个阶段。首先是婴儿，

在保姆的怀里呜咽呕吐；

然后是背着书包、

脸上泛着清晨光芒、像蜗牛一样爬着

不情愿地去上学的呜咽小学生。然后是情人，

像火炉一样叹息，对着情妇的眉毛

唱着一首悲伤的歌谣。然后是一个士兵，

满口奇怪的誓言，像豹子一样长着胡须，

嫉妒荣誉，争吵突然而迅速，

寻求泡沫般的名声，即使在炮口中。 然后是法官，

圆圆的肚子里裹着上好的阉鸡，

眼神严厉，胡子修剪得整整齐齐，

满口睿智的格言和现代的例子；

他就这样扮演着自己的角色。

第六个年龄的他

穿着瘦削的拖鞋，

鼻子上架着眼镜，腰间挂着小袋；

他那年轻的长袜保存完好，世界太广阔了

他的小腿太小了；他那洪亮的嗓音，

又变成了孩子般的高音，笛声

在他的声音中带着口哨声。最后一幕，

结束了这段奇怪而多事的历史，

是第二次幼稚和纯粹的遗忘；

没有牙齿，没有眼睛，没有品味，没有一切。

(French)

Tout le monde est une scène,

 Et tous les hommes et femmes ne sont que des joueurs ;

 Ils ont leurs sorties et leurs entrées ;

 Et un homme à son époque joue plusieurs rôles,

 Ses actes sont de sept âges. Au début, le nourrisson,

 Miaulement et vomissements dans les bras de l’infirmière ;

 Et puis l'écolier pleurnicheur, avec son cartable

 Et un visage matinal brillant, rampant comme un escargot

 À contrecœur à l'école. Et puis l'amant,

 Soupirant comme une fournaise, avec une ballade lamentable

 Fait au sourcil de sa maîtresse. Puis un soldat,

 Plein de jurons étranges et barbu comme le pard,

 Jaloux de l'honneur, soudain et vif dans les querelles,

 À la recherche de la réputation de bulle

 Même dans la gueule du canon. Et puis la justice,

 Au ventre rond et joliment doublé de chapon,

 Avec des yeux sévères et une barbe de coupe formelle,

 Plein de scies sages et d'instances modernes ;

 Et donc il joue son rôle.

 Le sixième âge change

 Dans le pantalon maigre et chaussonné,

 Avec lunettes sur le nez et pochette sur le côté ;

 Son tuyau de jeunesse, bien sauvé, un monde trop vaste

 Pour sa tige rétrécie ; et sa grande voix virile,

 Revenant vers les aigus enfantins, les tuyaux

 Et siffle dans son son. Dernière scène de toutes,

 Cela met fin à cette étrange histoire mouvementée,

 C'est une seconde enfantillage et un simple oubli ;

 Sans dents, sans yeux, sans goût, sans tout.

(Malay)

Semua dunia adalah pentas,

  Dan semua lelaki dan wanita hanyalah pemain;

  Mereka mempunyai pintu keluar dan pintu masuk mereka;

  Dan seorang lelaki pada zamannya memainkan banyak perana,

  Perbuatannya tujuh umur. Pada mulanya bayi,

  Mewling dan muntah dalam pelukan jururawat;

  Dan kemudian budak sekolah yang merengek, dengan begnya

  Dan wajah pagi yang bersinar, merayap seperti siput

  Tidak mahu ke sekolah. 

 Dan kemudian kekasih,

  Mengeluh seperti relau, dengan balada yang menyedihkan

  Dibuat pada kening perempuan simpanannya. 

 Kemudian seorang askar,

  Penuh dengan sumpah pelik, dan berjanggut seperti pard,

  Cemburu dalam kehormatan, tiba-tiba dan cepat dalam pertengkaran,

  Mencari reputasi gelembung

  Walaupun dalam mulut meriam. Dan kemudian keadilan,

  Dalam perut bulat yang cantik dengan capon lin'd yang baik,

  Dengan mata yang teruk dan janggut potongan formal,

  Penuh dengan gergaji bijak dan contoh moden;

  Jadi dia memainkan peranannya.

  Umur keenam beralih

  Ke dalam seluar yang kurus dan berselipar,

  Dengan cermin mata di hidung dan kantung di sisi;

  Hos mudanya, selamat, dunia yang terlalu luas

  Untuk batangnya yang kecut; dan suara lelakinya yang besar,

  Berpusing lagi ke arah treble kebudak-budakan, paip

  Dan bersiul dalam bunyinya. Adegan terakhir semua,

  Itu menamatkan sejarah peristiwa aneh ini,

  Adakah kebudak-budakan kedua dan kealpaan semata-mata;

  Tanpa gigi, tanpa mata, tanpa rasa, tanpa segala-galanya.

(Korean)

온 세상이 무대,

  그리고 모든 남자와 여자는 단지 선수일 뿐입니다.

  출구와 입구가 있습니다.

  그리고 한 사람이 그의 시대에 많은 역할을 담당합니다.

  그의 행적은 일곱 시대이다. 처음에는 유아,

  간호사의 팔에 울부짖고 토하는 것;

  그리고 가방을 들고 징징거리는 남학생이

  그리고 빛나는 아침 얼굴, 달팽이처럼 살금살금 기어가네

  마지못해 학교에 갑니다. 그러다가 연인,

  용광로처럼 한숨을 쉬며 애절한 발라드로

  여주인의 눈썹에 만들어졌습니다. 그럼 군인이요,

  이상한 맹세로 가득 차 있고, 파드처럼 수염을 기른 ​​채,

  명예를 위해 질투하고, 갑작스럽게 다투며,

  거품의 명성을 추구하다

  대포의 입에도. 그리고 정의,

  좋은 capon lin'd와 함께 공정한 둥근 배에,

  엄숙한 눈빛과 격식을 갖춘 수염,

  현명한 톱과 현대적인 사례로 가득 차 있습니다.

  그래서 그는 자신의 역할을 수행합니다.

  여섯 번째 시대의 변화

  가늘고 미끄러운 바지 속으로,

  코에는 안경이 있고 옆면에는 주머니가 있습니다.

  그의 젊은 호스, 잘 구해졌어, 세상이 너무 넓어

  그의 줄어든 정강이 때문에; 그리고 그의 크고 남자다운 목소리,

  다시 유치한 고음으로 향하는 피리

  그리고 그의 소리에 휘파람을 불었습니다. 무엇보다 마지막 장면,

  이로써 이 이상하고 다사다난한 역사는 끝났습니다.

  두 번째 유치함이며 단순한 망각입니다.

  이빨도 없고, 눈도 없고, 맛도 없고, 모든 것이 없이.