WilliamShakespeare

By Julianne William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, in England. He was born in 1564, although his exact birth date is unknown. He was the third of seven children. His dad, John Arden Shakespeare was a tanner and a glove maker. When he was 18 he married Anne Hathaway on November 27, 1582. A year later his first daughter Susanna is born. He has twins, Judith and Hamnet, two years later. On April 23 1616, in Stratford, he died at the age of 52. [|All the Worlds a Stage]

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, <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">In fair round belly with good capon lined, <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">With eyes severe and beard of formal cut, <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Full of wise saws and modern instances; <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Into the lean and slipper'd pantaloon, <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">With spectacles on nose and pouch on side, <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">For his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice, <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Turning again toward childish treble, pipes <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all, <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">That ends this strange eventful history, <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Is second childishness and mere oblivion, <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The poem is about the many parts we play in life. We all grow up and change in personality and character. This poem talks about the many stages we go through and the way we act differently. He also addresses the many different parts we play for others, like our lovers. The poem wraps up in a sad yet peaceful way as we meet death and complete the play of our lives.