What are your thoughts on life being a stage, and humans being actors in a play (think Shakespeare)

Question

To get you thinking....

"As You Like It" Act II, Scene vii -

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 lined,

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 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. Last scene of all,

That ends this strange eventful history,

Is second childishness and mere oblivion,

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

AND

"Macbeth" Act V, Scene v

To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,

Creeps in this petty pace from day to day

To the last syllable of recorded time,

And all our yesterdays have lighted fools

The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!

Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player

That struts and frets his hour upon the stage

And then is heard no more: it is a tale

Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,

Signifying nothing.

Answer 1

I find it a little pessimistic.  There is a lot of truth in the proposition that the parts we play are very predictable.  But this view overlooks the spontaneity, the humanity and joy with which we often invest in our roles.  It implies there is something wrong with playing your part in the overall scheme of life. I don't think so.

But this is a play and I love the way this view is expressed.

Answer 2

I think is is a very accurate and astute observation of human existence.

It is like we are caught in a trap or someone else's game playing various roles that are predetermined by someone else (the guy who wrote the play). There is very little going on that is created outside of these roles or independantly determined.

I think we need to create some new more worthwhile games to play.

Or at least write our own scripts for a change!

Answer 3

well i think it makes sense but there are aspects to it that don't hold similarity. consider that a play is something seen from an outside perspective..so thus an aspect of it is predictable. once you begin to learn the way a writer writes, their stories can be figured out more easily... it's true that some aspects of life are predictable..but consider the fact that if something in a play or movie happens unexpected..its considered a "twist"..while in life its fate or destiny.  if you want to split hairs though and say, well its all about the introspective view of the play..and the "actors" being people..well then really you can say the play is merely a reflection on real life.  and the actors are just mimicing that which we see every day! just my opinion. (and btw i am an avid shakespeare fan)

Answer 4

Shakespeare was a play writer so it is natural that he would see things in terms of the world being a stage and humans being actors, extending the metaphor of the play into all of life.

He cleverly expands the play to the audience to show them that they are part of the play although their entrances and exits occur at intermission.

Answer 5

Both seem pretty accurate portrayals of human existence.  I'm not sure that it matters much, except maybe to yourself, how you play the part.