Quote by Oscar Wilde

Actors are so fortunate. They can choose whether they will appear in tragedy or in comedy, whether they will suffer or make merry, laugh or shed tears. But in real life it is different. Most men and women are forced to perform parts for which they have no qualifications. Our Guildensterns play Hamlet for us, and our Hamlets have to jest like Prince Hal. The world is a stage, but the play is badly cast.

Actors are so fortunate. They can choose whether they will a

Summary

This quote highlights the contrast between the flexibility actors have in choosing their roles on stage and the lack of choice in the roles people must perform in real life. It suggests that many individuals are forced to undertake roles for which they are ill-suited or unqualified. The quote uses the characters Guildenstern and Hamlet to represent the mismatched roles people assume in life, where "our Guildensterns" (incompetent individuals) play important roles, while "our Hamlets" (capable individuals) are consigned to inconsequential roles. Overall, it reflects a belief that life's stages are poorly cast, resulting in a disparity between one's abilities and the roles they are expected to fulfill.

Topics

Humor Funny Satire Shakespeare

By Oscar Wilde

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