The School-Boy (The Seven Ages of Man), Act II Sc. VII (As You Like İt)

Description

This engraving references William Shakespeare's famous "The Seven Ages of Man" monologue from his pastoral comedy, As You Like It. Beginning with Shakespeare's words, "All the world's a stage," this passage depicts human life in seven stages from birth to death: infancy, childhood, youth in love, military service, judicial service, old age, and finally, the "second childhood" that comes with infirmity. This engraving allegorically represents the second phase of the monologue, "Childhood (School Age). At the center of the composition is a child being sent to school by his mother. The child's facial expression reflects a spirit of reluctance and slow walking. This is consistent with Shakespeare's description of the child "going to school reluctantly and with a slow, snail-like step." The mother and father figures represent family support, the workers represent the continuity of social labor, and the nature motifs represent the harmony of learning with the cycle of life.