Arcadia

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Arcadia refers to a Utopian ideal: the idea of harmony with nature and the entire world. The term is derived from a Greek province, which bears the same name. The Province’s mountainous landscape and history of containing a sparse population of farmers later caused the word “Arcadia” to develop into a poetic byword for an idyllic vision of unspoiled natural beauty. The inhabitants are regarded as living without pride and avarice that corrupted other regions of the world. The inhabitants of Arcadia are regarded as living close to nature, uncorrupted by civilization, and being virtuous. In other words they live in a place that many people would consider a paradise.

The title “Arcadia” from Tom Stoppard’s play is actually an abbreviation of the phrase “Et in Arcadia ego” which translates to “and in Arcadia I am,” which means “I (death) too am in Arcadia.” This suggests that even in paradise death is not only present, but that it lurks behind every dark corner, just as it would anywhere else.

Besides appearing on the front cover of the play, the term “Arcadia” holds a very importan...

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