ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE
The whole world has been compared to a stage where players show there performance. Actors are men and women and they play the game of life. On the stage actors comes and go and play their part. Likewise, man's life in this world is not different from one's participation in a dramatic performance.
Just as an actor leaves the stage after playing is part for a short while, man spends his worldly life participating in activities of the world and then he is heard no more. Just as on the stage performers play their part and spectators enjoy themselves without probing the actor's inner feeling so mostly men and women play their part and the world remains ignorant of their inward nature.
Though certain people declare that fact is the index of character and feelings yet often reality remains far away in the modern world a smiling face may be hiding an aching heart. A man may smile and smile and yet be maybe a villain. We see only the surface and form of our ideas by outer words and activities.
We do not drive deep and remain ignorant of the fact. When a man has taken his birth in the world, he has to play his part whether he likes it or not. He plays it nobly or ignobly . It is not necessary in the world that the virtuous will be rewarded and the villain will be punished but often it happens that one is appreciated as defanced according to the act. Pope has rightly said :
" Honour and shame from no condition rise;
Act well your part, there all the honour lies.
However, when man is in this world, it is necessary for him " to play his part intelligently, nobly, and sincerely. Life is real. It is earnest and its goal is not the grave only. Man must strain his nerves to perform good activities so that the prosperity may remember him gratefully. He should act earnestly without the least consideration for reward and punishment.
Related Information:
- Plot construction of 'She Stoops to Conquer'
- English Comedy before Goldsmith
- Sentimental Comedy: Reaction of Goldsmith against it
- Character and role of Miss Neville
- Discuss She Stoops to Conquer as a Sentimental Comedy
- Discuss Goldsmith's View of Sentimental Comedy
- Give an estimate of Goldsmith as a dramatist
- Contribution of Goldsmith as a Dramatist
- Oliver Goldsmith: Social and Political setting
- Life and works of Oliver Goldsmith
