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Shakes Paper
Art imitates life, or so they say. However, through his literary cannon, William Shakespeare has continually set out to try and prove the idea that perhaps art is not imitation of life, but during peoples lives, they are simply imitating what they desire. Whether it be a swapping of identity in As You Like It or The Taming of the Shrew or deliberately making the actions of a villain, as seen in Richard the III, the idea that "All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players" (As You Like It 2.7.139-140) becomes ever evident. While throughout his career Shakespeare was known to continually dabble in the idea that men are what the perceive themselves to be, this is shown most clearly in his early works, such as The Taming of the Shrew.
Within The Taming of the Shrew is the idea that people are merely what they perceive themselves to be. While present throughout the entire play given the facades that all characters create, the induction manages to set the stage wherein playing a prank on a wandering drunk, a Lord wishes to play a prank on the drunk, making him believe that he, is in fact, the Lord. To this, one man replies, "We will play our part, as he shall think by our true diligence, he is no less than what we say he is." (Induction 69-71). It is through this line that the idea that people are merely the part they choose to play is exposed. Having set the stage, the induction fades away to further the idea set forth within it. While all characters further the idea that people are what they wish to be, the person who truly makes this point intriguing is Kate. Through Kate, the reader is able to see Shakespeare showing a person with not only the ability to be mean and spiteful, but at the same time, humble and obedient. While readers will differ on their interpretations of Kate, if one compares her unruly nature in the beginning, during which she goes as far to tie up and beat her sister (2.1), to her closing speech in the end (5.2. 136-178), one begins to see that people, much like actors, play a role. However, while in actor is given a set role, its up to the individuals in the real world to decided what they will and will not be.
As well, through the sub-plots in which the various characters imitate others, it is seen that life is, basically, a play. In a world where people are what they own, or are what others perceive them to be, they are basically playing a part set-out by small choices a person has made. When Vincentio is set to look like a fool (4.5), it works to emphasize how that the role a person plays in society can be ever changing. While a person may at one point perceive themselves to be cultured and dignified, with a simply twist of fate, or role reversal, they can quickly be shown to be no more then a ill-educated vagrant.
The emphasis of choice on a persons role in society is further explored in the comedy As You Like It. Through the character of Rosalind, the audience is able to see a person fully transform themselves, and their role in society, so as to attain what they desire. When Viola is banished, she makes the quick decision to take the guise of a man (Ganymede) in the hopes of escaping the Duke. While the most obvious implications that life is merely a play is expressed in the fact that Rosalind does a role reversal, it is further explored in her interactions with Orlando. By talking to him as "a saucy lackey, and under that habit play the knave with him" (3.2 292-293) Rosalind sets forth an idea that flirting is not simply a sexual practice, but virtually ritualistic in its precision. Much like how actors must remember their lines in quick syncopation, flirtatious humans must recall the right response to every statement if they wish to attain what they desire. The formulaic banter of these two characters is prime evidence that all living things, whether they acknowledge the fact or not, or merely actors, reciting what they believe to be the correct lines.
Another piece which further explores the idea that a person is what they decide to be is the history of Richard the III. Probably the best line for supporting the idea that life is a stage, and people merely actors would be Richard's line "I am determined to prove a villain." (1.1 4). While the play goes quite well out of its way to show that Richard is a deformed individual, it further emphasis the point that Richard is acting all of his emotions through his various asides throughout the show. During the scene in which Richard shows supposed genuine emotion for Anne (1.2), he finishes off by saying that he will "have her, but I will not keep her long." (1.2 239) Through this line, it can be taken that Richard doesn't really care for anything, all he does is part of the role he plays. Though Richard could have easily chosen to live life as a good and noble person, that is not the role in society he wished to have, rather, he chose to mold his personality and follow deliberate actions to reach his ambition, much as an actor must memorize lines to further the plot of a story.
Through the character of Richard, the reader is able to contemplate the idea that perhaps the people who seem generally evil, suave, or naïve in life are merely acting so as to attain the reality which they most desire. By putting up a façade, people are able to manipulate their situation to gain the future which they most desire. However, while the Richard scenario shows the idea that humans are in charge of their lives (or the show in this case) Shakespeare further explores the idea that people have no control and must simply follow a fate previously decreed.
Through the concept of fate within Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare puts forth the final idea that life is merely a show, and humans are nothing but actors. In the opening lines, when Shakespeare states the play is has to do with "a pair of star crossed lovers."(1.1 6) The way that Romeo and Juliet is constructed, it easily lends itself to an idea that despite the control people may think they have, human nature makes people play a part they can not escape. While Romeo attempts to escape the bonds placed unto him due to the feud in Verona, his human nature forces him to kill Tybalt in his rage after the death of Mercutio (3.1). While some may see it as possible for Romeo to have escaped from this situation, the idea of fate and Romeo merely being a pawn in fates game of chess leads to the conclusion that Romeo was bound to fall for Juliet, kill Tybalt, and eventually take his own life.
As well, by examining the lines that Romeo and Juliet share together, the reader can see how they play off each other so well, leading to the idea that flirting, similar to as it was seen in As You Like It, is merely an elaborate ceremony humans go through. During the balcony scene, the flow of the lines from Romeo to Juliet is a perfect example of how humans fall in sync with each other, whether they realize it or not, and their nature takes over to allow them to accomplish what was fated of them, in this case, giving the correct responses. As such, an idea that fate due to human nature turns all people to actors comes into play, as opposed to the view of Richard in which it is a sought for concept to guide the course of events, rather then simply follow them.
While it easy to simply say that life is a stage is an amusing joke placed into Shakespeare writing, upon analysis, it becomes evident that the line is proven philosophically true through all his works. Whether it be purposefully villainy, the art of wooing, or the role of fate, humans are merely actors, either playing a role of their choice, or one inevitably chosen for them. As such, it cannot be denied, the world truly is a stage.
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