The Seven Ages of Man is a monologue from William Shakespeare's play As You Like It, spoken by the character Jaques. In the monologue, Jaques describes the seven stages of a man's life, beginning with infancy and ending with old age. Each stage is characterized by a particular trait or experience, and Jaques reflects on the inherent joys and sorrows of each stage.
The first stage of a man's life is infancy, which is characterized by weakness and dependence. Jaques describes infants as "mewling and puking in the nurse's arms." This stage is marked by a lack of agency and the need for constant care and protection from others.
The second stage is childhood, which is characterized by play and innocence. Jaques describes children as "whining schoolboys, with their satchels / And shining morning faces, creeping like snails / Unwillingly to school." In this stage, children are still dependent on others but are beginning to explore the world and learn about themselves and their surroundings.
The third stage is youth, which is characterized by energy and passion. Jaques describes young people as "the lean and slippered pantaloon, / With spectacles on nose and pouch on side, / His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide / For his shrunk shank." At this stage, young people are full of energy and have a strong desire to experience and achieve.
The fourth stage is manhood, which is characterized by responsibility and purpose. Jaques describes men in their prime as "a lover, / Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad / Made to his mistress' eyebrow." Men at this stage are focused on their responsibilities and achieving their goals, often in the service of others, such as a family or a community.
The fifth stage is old age, which is characterized by wisdom and reflection. Jaques describes old people as "second childishness and mere oblivion, / Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything." In this stage, people have lived long enough to have gained a wealth of knowledge and experience, and they often spend their time reflecting on their lives and sharing their wisdom with others.
The sixth stage is dotage, which is characterized by senility and a loss of mental faculties. Jaques describes the elderly in this stage as "merely players, / They have their exits and their entrances." At this stage, people may become forgetful and confused, and they may lose their ability to engage with the world around them in the same way they did in earlier stages of life.
The seventh and final stage is death, which is characterized by the end of all earthly experiences and the transition to the afterlife. Jaques describes death as "the last scene of all, / That ends this strange eventful history, / Is second childishness and mere oblivion, / Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything." Death marks the end of a person's time on earth and their passage to whatever comes next.
In the Seven Ages of Man, Shakespeare presents a contemplative and nuanced view of the human experience, highlighting the joys and sorrows of each stage of life. Through Jaques's monologue, Shakespeare encourages us to embrace and appreciate each stage of life, recognizing that each one has its own unique set of challenges and rewards.