This world is a set where we men and women are mere actors and actress playing the roles of seven stages of life. We enter this stage by taking birth fulfill our responsibilities and eventually our role ends with death.

Parallelism between the Life of a Man and Actors on the Stage

The famous monologue "The Seven Ages of Man" from William Shakespeare's play "As You Like It" draws a parallel between the life of a man and actors on the stage. This comparison highlights the transient and cyclical nature of human existence. Let's dive into the details of this parallelism:

1. Introduction:
The monologue begins by comparing the world to a stage and human beings to actors. Just as actors enter and exit the stage, humans enter and exit the world. This establishes the overarching metaphor of life as a theatrical performance.

2. Seven Stages:
Shakespeare describes seven stages of human life, each representing a different age or phase. These stages reflect the progression of a person's life from infancy to old age, much like the acts in a play.

3. Infancy:
The first stage is infancy, symbolized as the "mewling and puking" of a newborn. This parallels the young actors who enter the stage, often crying and vomiting, as they take their first steps in the world of acting.

4. Schoolboy:
The second stage is the schoolboy, characterized by his unwillingness to attend school and his love for play. This aligns with the actors' early training and education, where they learn the basics of their craft while still enjoying the excitement of the stage.

5. Lover:
The third stage represents the lover, who is passionate and full of romantic fantasies. Similarly, actors in this stage of life often play roles that involve love, desire, and intense emotions.

6. Soldier:
The fourth stage portrays the soldier, brave and valiant in battle. Actors in this stage often take on roles as warriors, knights, or soldiers, embodying courage and strength.

7. Justice:
The fifth stage is the justice, symbolizing maturity and wisdom. Actors who have gained experience and mastery of their art take on roles that require wisdom, portraying characters such as judges, rulers, or wise old men.

8. Pantaloon:
The sixth stage depicts the pantaloon, an elderly character who is feeble and wearied by old age. This stage reflects the aging actors who struggle with physical limitations and may be typecast into roles that portray the elderly.

9. Senility:
The final stage is senility, representing the last years of life when a person becomes dependent and weak. In the acting world, this stage corresponds to retired actors who are no longer actively performing and gradually fade away from the stage.

10. Conclusion:
By drawing parallels between the life of a man and actors on the stage, Shakespeare emphasizes the transitory nature of human existence. Just as actors play their parts and exit the stage, individuals progress through various stages of life before ultimately reaching the end. This comparison serves as a reminder of the fleeting nature of life and the importance of cherishing each stage, just as actors cherish their time on the stage.