Q1) Briefly describe the stages of a man's life as Shakespeare says it in his poem "The Seven ages of a man".
Answer:- The poem "The Seven ages of a man" by Shakespeare talks about growing up and growing old of a human. The poet talks alot about the various series of changes that occurs physically as well as mentally as a man grows old . The poet metaphorically states that the life is like a stage where men are fated to play many roles in his life. Shakespeare describes the stages of a man's life with a touch of satire and cynicism, along with the depiction of each of them with great economy of words.
The first stage of life is that of an infant. Here, the infant weeps, cries and pukes as are the characteristics of this stage. He is helpless and totally dependent. The second stage as Shakespeare describes it , is the school going age. The school boy sulks as he don't want to go to school. He trudges unwillingly like a snail, although he has a bright face. In the third stage, he plays the role of a lover who heaves deep sighs in absence of his beloved. Energy , enthusiasm,rashness and patriotism finds their way into the soldier which is the fourth stage. A soldier can sacrifice even his life for short-lived reputation. Then comes the judge in the fifth stage which is perhaps the best of all. Here, the man is prosperous,well-fed, fierce-eyed , stern and impressive. He is full of wise sayings and examples from contemporary life to prove his point. But in the sixth stage, man becomes weak and thin. He looks funny with slippers, loose clothes, spectacles on nose and pouch on sides. His clothes of youth now become loose for his shrunk shanks and thin body. In last stage of life- second childishness, mental dementia and death: he loses his status and becomes a non-entity. He becomes dependent on others like a child and is in need of constant support before finally dying. Thus with senile the life of man end and so happens his exit.
Q2) What message does Shakespeare's 'The Seven Ages of Man' convey?
Answer:-. The evergreen literary figure, William Shakespeare in his poem 'The Seven Ages of Man' , which is spoken by melancholic Jacque in the comedy 'As You like it' , has expressed the underlying sublime truth of life which is that life like a river always flows towards its end i.e. the death which is the final stage. Life of a Man is always about growing; growing from an infant to a child, child to lover, then a soldier to a justice and then growing old to finally senile and death. There is nothing permanent in a man's life. On one hand the poem seems to talk about changes that body and mind undergoes when a person grows. With the change in their age the priorities even change. From a child being concerned about fun and lesson then love and then finally money and security. But on the other hand the poet takes it to another level, the poem talks about the inevitability of change. In this world of mortal everything changes while change being the only thing constant and death being the ultimate change. Shakespeare's mentioning 'mere oblivion' in the ending line gives some sort of finality to his ideas , showing that although we are living still we'll have to die. Thus all achievement in this physical world would evade, as nothing can transcend time; taking life seriously can help us achieve success in a lifetime and make the best of life but whatever we bag all ends with death as the curtain of life falls.
The first stage of life is that of an infant. Here, the infant weeps, cries and pukes as are the characteristics of this stage. He is helpless and totally dependent. The second stage as Shakespeare describes it , is the school going age. The school boy sulks as he don't want to go to school. He trudges unwillingly like a snail, although he has a bright face. In the third stage, he plays the role of a lover who heaves deep sighs in absence of his beloved. Energy , enthusiasm,rashness and patriotism finds their way into the soldier which is the fourth stage. A soldier can sacrifice even his life for short-lived reputation. Then comes the judge in the fifth stage which is perhaps the best of all. Here, the man is prosperous,well-fed, fierce-eyed , stern and impressive. He is full of wise sayings and examples from contemporary life to prove his point. But in the sixth stage, man becomes weak and thin. He looks funny with slippers, loose clothes, spectacles on nose and pouch on sides. His clothes of youth now become loose for his shrunk shanks and thin body. In last stage of life- second childishness, mental dementia and death: he loses his status and becomes a non-entity. He becomes dependent on others like a child and is in need of constant support before finally dying. Thus with senile the life of man end and so happens his exit.
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