The Lover (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 third phase of the monologue, "The Lover-Youth in Love". At the center of the composition, a young man is seen lying on the ground, gazing dreamily at the sky, in a passionate and melancholic state of love. Holding a lute, he symbolizes the expression of love and emotion through music, while the adjacent sheet of writing paper symbolizes love letters and the expression of poetic sentiments. In the background, two young female figures, surrounded by ivy, represent the lover's dream and the idealized object of desire. The peacock in the scene symbolizes the splendor and pride of love, while the parrot symbolizes passionately repeated love vows.