What does it mean by "... Old fools are babes again ..."?
Please explain to me!!! THANKS A LOT!
I just Googled this quote and found it's from Shakespeare's King Lear. This site has an intepretation of this line in the context of the play.
http://nfs.sparknotes.com/lear/page_42.html
The phrase "Old fools are babes again" is a line from William Shakespeare's play, "The Winter's Tale," specifically from Act IV, Scene III. In the play, the character Hermione, who has been wrongly accused and imprisoned for infidelity, is believed to have died. However, she is later revealed to be alive and reunited with her husband, King Leontes.
The line is spoken by the character Polixenes, who is King Leontes' childhood friend. Polixenes expresses his joy and surprise upon seeing Hermione alive, and he remarks, "Old fools are babes again." This phrase signifies the rejuvenation and renewal of old age. It suggests that even wise or foolish old people can revert to a childlike state of innocence and wonder in the face of unexpected joy or astonishing events.
So, in summary, "Old fools are babes again" means that even elderly individuals can experience a revival of youthful excitement and naivety when they are confronted with extraordinary or joyous circumstances.
The phrase "Old fools are babes again" is a line from the play "As You Like It" by William Shakespeare. It is spoken by the character Jaques in Act II, Scene VII.
To understand what this phrase means, you can analyze the context in which it is used. In this scene, Jaques is reflecting upon the seven stages of human life. He describes the sixth stage of life as being "lean and slipper'd pantaloon," which is a reference to an elderly man.
When Jaques says that "Old fools are babes again," he is suggesting that as people grow old, they often become childlike in their behavior or attitudes. Just as young children are innocent, carefree, and sometimes foolish, old people may exhibit similar traits. This can be seen as a reflection on the cyclical nature of life, where individuals may revert back to childlike behaviors or attitudes as they age.
In summary, the phrase "Old fools are babes again" means that as people grow older, they may exhibit behaviors or attitudes that are reminiscent of when they were young and less wise.
It could mean that the diminished mental capacity of old people make them vulnerable to scams and innocent about the ways of the world.
Or it could refer to some of the physical problems of aging -- loss of teeth, incontinence, difficulty walking, etc. -- that make them physically more like babies.
It's also possible that since old people are retired and don't have the responsibilities of family and earning a living, they enjoy them selves and play as though they were children. Think of the old codgers who spend a lot of their time on the golf course or at the bridge table.