All the World's a Stage and Likewise. How Much Do You Know?

[Mahoo]

Shakespeare says: All the world's a stage.

Alexander pope says: 'Till tir'd he sleeps, and life's poor play is o'er.

Edmund Spencer says: of this world's theatre in which we stay

Sir Walter Raleigh Says: What is our life? a play of passion.

Have you every encountered similar metaphores comparing life to a play or people to actors. If you had please cite the line for me. I'll appreciate it.

[cacian]

Interesting lines. Do they have to be from said writers/poets or could anyone add a line or two?

[Mahoo]

as you like

[Klitos]

Shakespeare says: All the world's a stage.

Alexander pope says: 'Till tir'd he sleeps, and life's poor play is o'er.

Edmund Spencer says: of this world's theatre in which we stay

Sir Walter Raleigh Says: What is our life? a play of passion.

Have you every encountered similar metaphores comparing life to a play or people to actors. If you had please cite the line for me. I'll appreciate it.

The Greek poet Palladas (5th cent. AD) was the first who said "Σκηνὴ πᾶς ὁ βίος καὶ παίγνιον" (The Greek Anthologie, X 72). In W.R.Paton's translation (Loeb Classical Library) : "All life is a stage and a play".

[JBI]

It's a common theme in literature, and especially important to Shakespeare. It's all tied into the circle of life cosmology and world view of fortune and actions, driving a sort of divine stage to act upon.

That being said, the Trojan war is very much a play for the Gods, the poetic tradition is also rooted in such works. The idea that we are "Acting" is generally central to western literature, especially English. Still, religion has it that we are here to be tested for god, to regain that blissful seat - in that sense, life is but an act.

[cacian]

It's a common theme in literature, and especially important to Shakespeare. It's all tied into the circle of life cosmology and world view of fortune and actions, driving a sort of divine stage to act upon.

That being said, the Trojan war is very much a play for the Gods, the poetic tradition is also rooted in such works. The idea that we are "Acting" is generally central to western literature, especially English. Still, religion has it that we are here to be tested for god, to regain that blissful seat - in that sense, life is but an act.

I would say life is a performance and we are the act. both compensate each other to create a fact better then that and there is not.