Sunday Shakespeare

 I occasionally think about the Shakespeare quote from his play "As you like it." It really is true, the whole world is a stage and we all play a changing part, going from little relevance to a peak of relevance then back to the beginning. It is really not a happy thought for many as we are now on the downside of our existence. I personally can see my memory declining as well as my health not being as it was at one time. Unless we meet an untimely end we will all suffer through this. We do what we can while we can and that is all we can ask of ourselves until we "Quietly slip into that good night," which is another quote. 

Below is a synopsis of Shakespeare's theorem ....

The man in the poem goes through these stages:

1. Infancy: In this stage he is a helpless baby and knows little.
2. Childhood: It is that stage of life that he begins to go to school. He is unwilling to leave the protected environment of his home as he is still not confident enough to exercise his own discretion.
3. The lover: In this stage he is always remorseful due to some reason or other, especially the loss of love. He tries to express feelings through song or some other cultural activity.
4. The soldier: It is in this age that he thinks less of himself and begins to think more of others. He is very easily aroused and is hot headed. He is always working towards making a reputation for himself and gaining recognition, however short-lived it may be, even at the cost of his own life.
5. The justice: In this stage he has acquired wisdom through the many experiences he has had in life. He has reached a stage where he has gained prosperity and social status. He becomes very attentive of his looks and begins to enjoy the finer things of life.
6. Old Age: He begins to lose his charm — both physical and mental. He begins to become the butt of others' jokes. He loses his firmness and assertiveness, and shrinks in stature and personality.
7. Extreme old age: He loses his status and he becomes a non-entity. He becomes dependent on others.