The seven Ages of a Man - William Shakespeare

The Seven Ages of a man 

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. 

Then the whining schoolboy, 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 modem instances; 

And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts 

Into the lean and slippered 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. 

                                                 

- William Shakespeare

Theme:

In the poem "The Seven Ages of A Men" the poet depicts the eternal flow of time. He depicts that in this world everyone is a player, and god has assigned a role to them, and after playing their role they have to take an exit from his world. Poet depicts the world as a stage where all men and women are performers. In the next few lines poet tell us about the seven ages of me, which are these: 

1. Infant
2. School Boy
3. Lover
4. Soldier
5. Justice
6. Old Age
7. Last Stage ( Extremely Old Age )