Final answer:
Shakespeare's seven ages of man - the infant, the schoolboy, the lover, the soldier, the judge, the aged man, and the return to a childish state - remain true to life today. They are reflections of the typical human life cycle, observed in many cultures and eras.
Step-by-step explanation:
Shakespeare's seven ages of man are indeed a timeless articulation of human life. This encompassing perspective ranges from helpless infancy to the decisive schoolboy, the emotional lover, the predatory soldier, the wise judge, the aging, dwindling man and finally, the second state of childlike helplessness. Every stage indeed continues to reflect the typical human life cycle, even four centuries after they were written.
Let's take the schoolboy stage, which exhibits a dislike for discipline and a penchant for distraction - a trait still observed among many students. The lover, who Shakespeare portrays as composing verses to his beloved, mirrors the passionate age of adolescence and early adulthood filled with romantic pursuits. The wise judge, who represents mature adulthood, still rings true for many in their prime years of judgement and wisdom. The final age marking return to childhood shows the aging human's physical and sometimes cognitive regression, illustrating the full circle of human life.
All these stages are echoed in many cultures and time periods, proving Shakespeare's deep understanding of human nature. The seven ages of man, therefore, remain true to life today as they did when Shakespeare penned them.
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