Jaques Speech Act in As You Like It

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Jaques Speech Act in As You Like It

In William Shakespeare’s As You Like It the speech act is introduced and helps to create a unique insight into the play and its events. Shakespeare integrates a speech act by Jaques to deliver a deeper meaning and lesson to the audience or reader of the work. Jaques in his speech act conveys a message with a much deeper meaning and teaching to society in general. The speech act rendered by Jaques addresses the themes of satire, philosophy, and the ages of man.

Jaques starts his speech act by stating that

“ All the world’s a stage,

And all the men and women merely players.

They have their exits and their entrances,

And one man in his time plays many parts,

His acts being seven ages.” (II, vii, 139-143)

Jaques has turned to philosophy in his search for a new identity, and as a philosopher he starts to question what he sees and hears around him. This drives him to offer this speech act where he sees the world as a stage upon which people perform. Their different ages signify varying acts and scenes in As You Like It. The descriptions presented by Jaques lead one to believe that the roles are somewhat beyond the player’s control and perhaps even that the script has been set by an eternal power.

Jaques addresses the topic of satire utilizing a unique way to convey the message to the audience or reader. A mention is made of the infant who “[mews] and [pukes] in the nurses arms “(II, ii, 144-146). He describes the event in such a g...

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