“ALL THE WORLD IS A STAGE” AND WE’RE SIMPLY ACTORS.

 “All the world’s a stage”

In  Shakespeare’s ‘As You Like It’ Jacques a philosophizing jester delivers a speech, which begins with the above statement and goes on to proclaim in a cynically despondent strain the fate of man after he appears on the stage of life. According to him, man passes through seven stages of utterly melancholic existence before leaving this world for good. His portrayal of human journey smacks of sorrows and sufferings and nothing else of significance.

Taking this as a starting point minus Jacques negativity, I  make an attempt to reflect upon human life as we live it. Yet agreeing with Jacques that life is a stage and we act different roles and depart. I'd be in a way stating life in a simplistic but thoughtful vein. 

Truly, we enter the world without our will and leave it when time’s mysterious wand weaves a spin and orders our disappearance. We’ve no say in either.

In fact, it is the period in between these two events; you may call it by any name you like that holds our interest. I’d call it the momentous conflict zone.

Childhood is a sweetly innocent, joyful, refreshing period solely driven by instincts and based on Freud’s ‘pleasure principle.’ However, it has its limiting challenges of recurring sicknesses and utter dependency. It is a slow build up to erupting of imminent lava waiting ahead, though.

The youth sits on smoldering coals. Raring to plunge headlong ever. It passes through grueling experiences. Buffeted by the whirlwinds of hormonal craziness, of uncontrolled impulsiveness, of ego rearing its satanic presence, and of the consciousness of self, make him an unenviable specimen. Coupled with a confused mental state including pulls and pressures of societal demands the youth elicits both our sympathy and disapproval. It has challenges galore yet it is the most romanticized period too. This act reaches the peak of dramatic interludes and scenes. It resembles a theatre of the absurd. The ever-curious audience laps up the embedded contradictions of the act.

The next act is that of graduating to manhood after climbing umpteen rungs of experiences’ ladder. Man earns some stability yet he enacts and faces unexpected crossroads.  Life is interspersed with stresses and strains in this act, the major being the economic one and balancing out the delicate human relationships. It is no less than a litmus test because a lot is at stake. Earning a livelihood and raising a family means tight rope walking. In short, it involves a little sweet and a lot of sour templates. It has struggle as its dominant theme. Only strength of character helps one to sail it through.

Next, the curtain rises. In this act, man bids adieu to the need to earn for his sustenance. He enters a retired life zone, signifying the fruits of his labor. He had longed to reach here. Foremost of all, he decides to finish the long pending tasks. Then he has all the time to strike a new beginning. He has innumerable options to indulge in.  He can pursue interests that he had postponed all along. He can pay back to society by disseminating the essence of his lifelong experiences through the instruments of his choosing. In fact, this can be the golden period of life if planned well. It is also a time to bow your head in gratitude for all the blessings.

The last stage of life offers a mixed platter. Lucky are those who can participate in the routine of life till the last day. 

Keep praying and wait for God’s messenger to deliver you an invitation at the appropriate time.

Friends welcome here as always! Please share your perspective on the theme!

Sharing with:

ABC Wednesday  actors/act
Nature Notes
Our World
Pictorial Tuesday