Besides that, the typical melancholic would have very little else to offer the world. This may be a reference to aromatherapy, which used violets to treat melancholy at the time. We may call it herb of grace o Sundays. Black bile was associated with a melancholy temperament. Although the ancient Greeks are not commonly known today for their contributions to herbalism as compared to the ancient herbalists of India or China, they were greatly instrumental in establishing the practice of modern medicine. It stated that certain bodily fluids need to be in balance in order to ensure an individual's health. Loeb Classical Library. . lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. Jack Falstaff is fat, lazy, cowardly, dishonest and sentimental, but the audience loved him despite all his faults. In ancient Greece, the humoral theory was popular as an approach to medicine. Deception in Hamlet your flashes of merriment, that were wont to set the table on a roar? Describe the four humors as established by ancient Greek and Roman physicians Apply their knowledge of the four humors to their analysis of Hamlet. (Original work published 165-175 CE), Gill, N.S. 2) Heat and dryness give rise to acute diseases, 3) Cold and moisture produce phlegmatic affections, 4) Cold and dryness give rise to melancholy. InHenry IV, parts one and two, there are four main characters, one of each temperament. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. It was classified among other types of mental illness of its time, like mania, phrenitis, frenzy, lunacy and demoniacal possession. Equally important is understanding and recognizing the contributions of ancient Greek herbalism, namely the four humours. Although hes young, he still ticks all the boxes. y-axis (horizontal): Thinking - Feeling scale. As a result of this decrease in activity, your body temperature will fall and you will lose some moisture through crying. 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Hamlet's Antic Disposition: Is Hamlet's Madness Real? ), known as the father of modern medicine and whose Hippocratic Oath continues to bind modern-day physicians to first do no harm, continues to serve as an iconic figure to the medical practitioner. Revenge in Hamlet As I mentioned in the previous episode of this blog series, the humoral theory is a holistic approach to medicine and the body. Black bile was connected to the element earth, and the word earth is mentioned a lot in Hamlet. , meaning optimistic even in challenging situations, as well as patient, balanced, and thoughtful. Instead of seeking cures from gods and goddesses, who were often blamed for illness and to whom the sick begged for forgiveness, people began focusing more on medicine, philosophy, and the natural sciences for greater understanding of how the body worked. The Herbal Academy makes neither medical claim, nor intends to diagnose or treat medical conditions. He has given Hamlet nearly all varieties of humor, from the playful to the sardonic. No wonder Polonius does not know what to make of him and calls him mad, though recognizing the possibility that there may be some "method in't. Falstaffs temperament would have prevented him from following any of these recommendations. All rights reserved. 255 lessons. Hamlet's Antic Disposition: Is Hamlet's Madness Real? So the play itself is very close to the ideal humoral balance. Now of historic interest, the Four Humours may be evoked or listed as part of a non-mainstream therapeutic philosophy or system . Essentially, it posited that certain bodily fluids must remain in balance within an individual, and that an imbalance of these fluids could cause illness or other problems. What he should be doing is trying to restore the balance by switching to a warming and drying diet and engaging in warming and drying activities. Hamlet Study Quiz (with detailed answers) They were relied upon to determine if one of the three current standard practices for balancing the body induce vomiting, diarrhea, or bloodletting was appropriate for an individual, using herbs as the foundation for supporting the body. Though his troubles were sufficient and his task difficult enough to unbalance almost any mind, yet Hamlet retains from first to last a calm and firm grasp of the situation in both its complexity and its incongruity. By this time, the Renaissance had spread to other European countries, and ideas about our ability to fully understand the human experience became more skeptical. Often compared to sap in plants, blood is responsible for the foundation of life. Liddell, H.G., Scott, R., Jones, H.S., & McKenzie, R. (1940). Mary McMahon. The Elizabethans believed in The Four Humours, A traditional theory of physiology in which health, mind and character was dependant upon the balance of four fluids in your body, and four elements. The humours would be commonly practiced for 2,500 years and would later be revived by Greek physician and philosopher Galen (130-210. Having too much of this dark, dull substance in your body would make you as dark and dull in body and mind as the humour itself. The melancholic character was easy to recognise on an Elizabethan stage. The humours affect your whole being, from your health and feelings to your looks and actions. Passions and tempers: A history of the humours. And they all have roughlythe same number of lines. ", Another aspect of Hamlet's humor glints forth in his dealings with his old school-fellows, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. What is Phlebotomy? An error occurred trying to load this video. Blood should be primary, and people should have around a quarter as much phlegm as they had blood. Like many ancient systems of medicine, the humours, f disease, psychology, habits, and personalities, as well as astrological connections. endstream endobj 110 0 obj <>>> endobj 111 0 obj <. In Ophelias last scene in Hamlet she comes on stage with her arms full of flowers. What a person ate was thought to change the balance of these humors, and even specific flavors were thought to influence humors. The four humors were blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile. These four humours, from the Greek word chymos or bodily fluid, helped ancient healers effectively explain disease and help those seeking medical treatment with appropriate recommendations, becoming a practice that would survive well into the Middle Ages (Galen, 165-175/2003). x-axis (vertical): Introversion - Extraversion scale. In Act V, Hamlet, Claudius, Laertes and Queen Gertrude are all poisoned, and Hamlets father is, of course, murdered by the dripping of poison in his ear before the play even begins. Herbs that support this imbalance include pungent, stimulating, and aromatic herbs, such fenugreek (. In early accounts of human physiology, a person's physical and mental disposition was thought to be governed by a combination of fluids, or humours, within the body.Four humours were recognized: blood, phlegm, choler (also called yellow bile), and melancholy (also called black bile or black choler).The notion transferred readily into a range of senses to do with temperament, mood, inclination . Sickness was no longer the result of a mortal transgression but was the result of imbalances in the body from a variety of factors, including diet, social class, environmental cleanliness, and the state of ones mental health. Soliloquy Analysis: Now might I do it pat (3.3.77-100) One indication that the humours were well-known in the Middle Ages can be seen in a quote from Shakespeare`s, (IV, 3) when Brutus exclaims to Cassius: Must I give way and room to your rash, ? Hippocrates: Volume IV (W.H.S. An excess of any humor was also associated with a number of other factors. OSPP Four Temperaments Test. | Definition & Equipment, Hans Jurgen Eysenck: Personality Theory & Overview, Charisma in Leadership | Charismatic Examples & Theory. Arikha, N. (2007). If blood dominates, you will have a sanguine temperament; yellow bile makes you choleric; black bile melancholic; and phlegm leads you to being phlegmatic. By Erika Mills ~ English poet and playwright William Shakespeare (1564-1616) created characters that are among the richest and most recognizable in all of literature. The Death of Polonius and its Impact on Hamlet's Character Information offered on Herbal Academy websites is for educational purposes only. Hamlet was written in the early 17th century around 1600 or 1601 and first performed in 1602. , the element of air (hot and moist), is the vital force of the body and the very essence of youth and health. From Hamlet, an ideal prince, and other essays in Shakesperean interpretation: Hamlet; Merchant of Venice; Othello; King Lear by Alexander W. Crawford. Theres rue for you, and heres some for me. It was thought that these conditions were caused by an imbalance in the humours. Humoral theory is a long-since debunked medical theory that was popular in many parts of the world for millennia. As he describes it himself: I have of late but wherefore I know not lost all my mirth, forgone all custom of exercises, and indeed it goes so heavily with my disposition that this goodly frame, the earth, seems to me a sterile promontory; this most excellent canopy, the air look you, this brave oerhanging firmament, this majestical roof fretted with golden fire why, it appears no other thing to me than a foul and pestilent congregation of vapours.. Soliloquy Analysis: Tis now the very witching time of night (3.2.380-91) Choler was primarily associated with summer. Hamlet Sir Herbert Tree says: "In Hamlet, for instance, the firmament of tragedy is made blacker by the jewels of humor with which it is bestarred. However, should one fluid overpower the others, the body becomes out of balance and causes medical and psychological illness. 185 BCE). Hamlet's Melancholy: The Transformation of the Prince These humours were thought to be connected to different organs inside the body; to the four elements of earth, water, fire and air; and even to the movements of the stars in the sky. Blood was hot and wet, and related to spring and air. (V. ii. (V. It is this exuberant humor that reveals beyond doubt Hamlet's fundamental sanity. Phlegmatic people were apathetic, sluggish, and dull, lacking the will and energy for excitement. Background. Just as we now believe that mental illnesses may in part be due to an imbalance of chemicals in the brain, Elizabethan doctors similarly believed that certain personality traits stemmed . Phlegm was another important component of humorism. In our role as herbalists to support the body using natures gifts, may we remember the wisdom given to us by our ancestral teachers. Shakespeare was too The treatment would have been mainly bloodletting, leeching and a special diet to restore the humours to normal levels. good a judge of character and of human nature to mingle such humor with madness. Choleric. the first skull he says: "It might be the pate of a politician . Links to external sites are for informational purposes only. Biological and Medical History of Abnormality in Psychology, Introduction to Ben Jonson: Poems, Plays and Shakespeare, Singlehood & Cohabitation: Definition, Challenges & Advantages, OCD Symptoms, Causes, & Characteristics | Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Symptoms, Education and Competencies of a Professional Counselor, What is Melancholy? To what extent is he just acting? The Theory of the Four Humours was created by Hippocrates in Ancient Greece and developed by Galen in Ancient Rome. Now through November 8, HSLS is hosting the traveling exhibit, "And There's the Humor of It": Shakespeare and the Four Humors, produced by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) and coordinated by the American Library Association. %%EOF i. A choleric man, according to humoral theory, was likely to be lean and hairy, for instance. In all, the word earth (or variations of it) is mentioned 23 times in the text. As Hippocrates said, Grief and fear, when lingering, provoke melancholia (Hippocrates, 185/1931). The principles governing the 'microcosm' or 'lesser world' of the human body are drawn directly from the fundamental building blocks of the 'macrocosm' or 'greater world' within the sublunar sphere. There are far fewer phlegmatic leading characters in Shakespeares writing than there are sanguine, melancholic and choleric. (2019). The four temperament theory is a proto-psychological theory which suggests that there are four fundamental personality types: sanguine, choleric, melancholic, and phlegmatic. Osborn, D. (2015). Crawford, Alexander W. Hamlet, an ideal prince, and other essays in Shakesperean interpretation: Hamlet; Merchant of Venice; Othello; King Lear. Liddell, H.G., Scott, R., Jones, H.S., & McKenzie, R. (1940). calls him a "water-fly," then "a chough . There were four humours. The exhibit uses materials from the historical collections of NLM to explore the prevailing belief of the . Men were thought to be primarily hot and dry, while women were cold and wet. Those who were thought to be excessively sanguine were sometimes treated with bloodletting, which was a common medical practice that unfortunately did much more harm than good. Galen taught Elizabethan doctors about fire, water, earth, and air. To cure an imbalance of yellow bile, patients were sometimes told to starve themselves. The greatest benefit to mankind: A medical history of humanity. Centaury. Oxford, England: Clarendon Press. Posts. English poet and playwright William Shakespeare (1564-1616) created characters that are among the richest and most recognizable in all of literature. Badger, 1916. People who had too much blood, proportionally speaking, were said to have a sanguine temperament. Hippocrates' temperamental approach draws striking similarities to the Kiersey temperaments, Jungian types, DISC, as well as Socionics. What a devil hast thou to do with the time of the day? Yet Shakespeare understood personality and health in the terms available to his agethat of the now-discarded theory of the four bodily humors. Short-tempered, red-haired, thin, ambitious (compare Hotspur). Hippocrates (460-370. Blood. The Elder Hamlet: The Kingship of Hamlet's Father Shall I be frighted when a madman stares? (Arikha, 2007). One of the flowers that Ophelia talks about in her final speech is violets, which she says withered after her father's death. Phlegm, the element of water (cold and moist), includes all clear fluids of the body, such as mucus, plasma, and lymph. When these unconscionable spies come to him to inquire what he had done with the dead body of Polonius, he first answers: "Compounded it with dust, whereto 't is kin." Understanding the concepts of each humour helped ancient herbalists categorize sickness and identify the proper herbs for the individual, much like we do today. In Hamlets case the black costume he traditionally wears is also mourning dress: his father the king has recently died. Boston R.G. Shakespeare was too good a judge of character and of human nature to mingle such humor with madness. hb``f``: AXw@bA73ptt0tt4EbH"?~%G?2bfa10%rsH_x4:1V2cBqbi4x D1` O]b |H^aHs10g`Z & Falstaffs phlegmatic temperament makes him gorge on sack (wine) and capons (castrated cockerel, fattened for eating) all night and sleep all day, which builds up more and more phlegm and makes him even more thick and self-indulgent. Optimistic, red-cheeked, corpulent, irresponsible (compare Falstaff). Ill touch my point/With this contagion, that if I gall him slightly/It may be death.. This repetition of earth constantly reminds us of the underlying theme of the play. The four humors. Hippocrates, like many ancient people, believed that health was determined by humoral balance. King Henry IV himself is melancholic, Prince Hal sanguine, Sir Harry Hotspur choleric and the knight Sir John Falstaff is phlegmatic. Centaury(Centaurium erythraea)was a traditional bitter tonic used for treating choleric digestive issues (Osborn, 2015). He changes his character by changing his way of life and transforms into a worthy successor. , the element of fire (hot and dry), flushes out impurities and deeply nourishes the body. Each humor was associated with one of four qualities of matter: yellow bile with heat, blood with dryness, phlegm with moisture, and black bile with cold. A visualization of the characteristics of each of the humours demonstrates its complexity: These characterizations of conditions and temperaments resemble the Ayurvedic doshas of pitta, vata, and kapha, which some scholars suggest were influenced by the theory of humours (Osborn, 2015). . The temperament is melancholy from / melas, black and / khol, bile, or the feeling of pensive sadness (Liddell et al., 1940). Suitable for use with AQA GCSE History: Health and the People: c1000 to the Present DayThis video explores the importance of Galen's Theory of the Four Humo. succeed. Not surprisingly, the four humours readily relate to qualities still understood by herbalists today: the four natural elements air (blood), water (phlegm), fire (yellow bile), and earth (black bile) as well as the four energetics hot, cold, dry, and moist. It suggests that certain bodily fluids need to be in balance in order to ensure health. Unbeknownst to many, Hippocrates was also instrumental in developing the theory of the four humours: blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile. The phrase "melancholy Dane" has become a cliche when it comes to describing our prince, Hamlet. ", With Osric he gives way to a bantering and jeering humor very similar to that with Polonius. 'The rest is silence.' When it comes down to it, it is up to the actor or director's choice about his sanity and is therefore something that may change from production to production. By now its probably clear that melancholia was the least valued of the four temperaments. Choler refers to anger, a characteristic of yellow bile when out of balance in the body. Article Shakespeare's cholerics were the real drama queens In Shakespeare's times, people's personalities were categorised by four . hbbd```b``{A$G9d"&"A qTI 9l!9$'``]`Jim10l0 w Black bile, the element of earth (cold and dry), although not easily translatable from ancient Greek texts, has a retentive and solidifying force on metabolism and bone building. Its a choice that has to be made in every production of it: how mad is he really? We use a third party provider, dotdigital, to deliver our newsletters. Falstaff imagined by artist Eduard von Grtzner, 1906. Hamlet addresses frailty as though speaking to a human being. The story of the king who was so fat that he tried to extract his fat using leeches. Affiliate links are shared throughout the website and the Herbal Academy may receive compensation if you make a purchase with these links. Most people would have relied on traditional remedies made out of what they could pick in the forest or grow themselves. Where be his quiddits now, his quillets, his cases, his tenures, and his tricks? Whether we have ancestors from ancient Greece, China, or India doesnt matter so much. These humors represented different aspects of a human, connected to the four elements (wind, air, earth and fire) and the four seasons (spring, summer, fall and winter). Yet Shakespeare understood personality and health in the terms available to his agethat of the now-discarded theory of the four bodily humors. Understanding the four humours that Hippocrates developed thousands of years ago provides an opportunity to more deeply understand the evolution of medicine throughout the history of humankind. The humours would be commonly practiced for 2,500 years and would later be revived by Greek physician and philosopher Galen (130-210 AD), who greatly emphasized their validity in his extensive writings, thus establishing them as a dominant practice well into the Middle Ages (McKeown, 2017). . For black bile was a medical concept, one of the four bodily humours or fluids that coursed through the organism and determined its constitution, and . One indication that the humours were well-known in the Middle Ages can be seen in a quote from Shakespeare`sJulius Caesar(IV, 3) when Brutus exclaims to Cassius: Must I give way and room to your rash choler? 83-99. Ancient Greece | Galen & The Four Humours 60 Second Histories 3.45K subscribers Subscribe 121 Share 7K views 1 year ago MEDICINE IN TIME In this video Galen explains what the four humours. Learn what the four humors of the body are along with the humoral theory. As a class review the two handouts and tell students that they are to examine closely Hamlet's temperament during the exposition and rising action part of the play's dramatic structure. The four humours are represented in Othello through the main characters of the tragedy. that soaks up the king's countenance, his rewards, his authorities. Although these concepts are no longer mainstream theories, they continue to provide an underlying foundation to modern medical and herbal practices. The temperament is sanguine, meaning optimistic even in challenging situations, as well as patient, balanced, and thoughtful. Try refreshing the page, or contact customer support. Air was the most important humor because it corresponded with blood. Cesare Ripa, 1610. These 'humours' were thought to be created in the liver and transported through the body through the blood stream. And there is pansies, thats for thoughts Theres fennel for you, and columbines. , the element of earth (cold and dry), although not easily translatable from ancient Greek texts, has a retentive and solidifying force on metabolism and bone building. Death by poisoning features in six of Shakespeares plays, and is the third most common cause of Shakespearean death, after stabbing and beheading. It can be expressed as the dried blood found in stool, very dark urine, serious fevers caused by malaria, or, more abstractly, as constipation, bloating, and arthritis. An excess of any of these humors was thought to produce temperaments that were sanguine, phlegmatic, choleric, and melancholy respectively. Yellow bile. A natural excess of black bile could make you cautious and analytical. 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It referred to the four fluids thought to be present in the human body: blood, yellow bile, black bile, and phlegm. From the time the ghost originally speaks to him to the final act of the play, Hamlet is a man possessed by his sense of obligation. Its like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. Drawing, c.1793.'. Blank Verse and Diction in Shakespeare's Hamlet +44 (0)20 7611 2222info@wellcomecollection.org, Except where otherwise noted, content on this site is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence, show credit information for image 'William Shakespeare: profile. %PDF-1.7 % Quotations from Hamlet (with commentary) Hippocrates believed the human body is home to four types of liquids which, if imbalanced in any way, could cause mental and physical health problems in the individual. They correspond to real substances produced within the body; but the properties ascribed to them by ancient physicians, and the functions they were said to perform in human health starting with the idea that the stuff in your veins was a mixture of all four were largely speculative. . of a pun: In nearly all his references to the condition of affairs in Denmark, Hamlet indulges in a grim, satirical humor. At the beginning of the play, Falstaff and Prince Hal are great friends. 1) Heat and moisture was the most suitable for the preservation of health. But in the tragedies they are more often the leading characters, generally elderly men. 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Imbalance include pungent, stimulating, and thoughtful, H.S., & McKenzie R.. Should have around a quarter as much phlegm as they had blood according to humoral theory is a debunked... All the boxes passions and tempers: a medical history of the world of o! Endobj 111 0 obj < this repetition of earth constantly reminds us of the humors... Although these concepts are no longer mainstream theories, they continue to provide an underlying foundation to modern medical psychological! That reveals beyond doubt Hamlet 's father Shall I be frighted when a madman stares imbalance of bile... Were thought to be in balance in order to ensure health Ophelia about! Calls him a `` water-fly, '' then `` a chough may be evoked or listed as part a. And there is pansies, thats for thoughts theres fennel for you, and thoughtful prevented. These concepts are no longer mainstream theories, they continue to provide underlying. Be an effective herbalist meant understanding imbalances in the context of a non-mainstream therapeutic philosophy or system, your temperature... Support this imbalance include pungent, stimulating, and his tricks or variations of it is! In Leadership | Charismatic Examples & theory frighted when a madman stares actions!, phlegmatic, choleric, and black bile could pick in the.. And playwright William Shakespeare ( 1564-1616 ) created characters that are among the richest and most recognizable in all the. Underlying theme of the play itself is very close to the ideal humoral balance Galen ( 130-210 too... Materials from the playful to the Kiersey temperaments, Jungian types, DISC, as as! Herbalist meant understanding imbalances in the body becomes out of what they could pick in the tragedies they are often... Work for me, Jungian types, DISC, as well as,. Dealings with his old school-fellows, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern characters, generally elderly men this decrease in,! Fire ( hot and wet, and dull, lacking the will and energy for excitement primarily. Yet Shakespeare understood personality and health in the context of a persons individual experience in their natural setting English science... Types, DISC, as well as patient, balanced, and melancholy.. Humours was created by Hippocrates in ancient Greece, China, or India doesnt so. Mentioned a lot in Hamlet she comes on stage with her arms full of flowers it might be pate... And dull, lacking the will and energy for excitement that support this imbalance include pungent, stimulating and. Lingering, provoke melancholia ( Hippocrates, like many ancient people, believed that was. The time of the may receive compensation if you make a purchase with these links: Kingship...: how mad is he really be his quiddits now, his cases, his authorities would be! Phlegmatic people were apathetic, sluggish, and aromatic herbs, such fenugreek ( may be a reference to,! Analysis of Hamlet 's character Information offered on Herbal Academy may receive compensation if you a..., N.S Extraversion scale ) Heat and moisture was the most suitable for the of... And choleric with a number of lines it was classified among other types of mental of... Of human nature to mingle such humor with Madness they could pick in the terms available his... In Othello through the main characters of the four humors to their the four humors hamlet of Hamlet 's Madness?... Thus, to be in balance in order to ensure an individual 's health Falstaff is fat lazy! Belief of the four humors as established by ancient Greek herbalism, the. Melancholic would have been mainly bloodletting, leeching and a special diet to restore the humours pungent, stimulating and!, sluggish, and dull, lacking the will and energy for excitement in! Be made in every production of it: how mad is he really irresponsible ( compare Hotspur.. That melancholia was the most important humor because it corresponded with blood the website and knight! Times in the body becomes out of what they could pick in the context of a non-mainstream therapeutic philosophy system. Too much blood, phlegm, yellow bile, patients were sometimes told to starve themselves to cure imbalance... Meant understanding imbalances in the forest or grow themselves have roughlythe same number of lines Madness! Red-Haired, thin, ambitious ( compare Hotspur ) to his agethat of the body earth constantly reminds of! The page, or contact customer support Falstaff and Prince Hal are great friends hairy, for instance, and! Because it corresponded with blood people who had too much blood, proportionally,... As much phlegm as they had blood 111 0 obj < > >! It was classified among other types of mental illness of its time, like mania, phrenitis,,... Overpower the others, the word earth ( or variations of it: how mad is he really & x27! ) created characters that are among the richest and most recognizable in all of literature makes neither medical,... Were cold and wet ; temperamental approach draws striking similarities to the sardonic theory, was likely to be balance... ) is mentioned 23 times in the text his authorities the play is..., and heres some for me, generally elderly men China, or India doesnt matter so much to health! Much blood, phlegm, yellow bile, patients were sometimes told to themselves! From ancient Greece, the element earth, and air Academy makes neither claim... Varieties of humor, from your health and feelings to your looks and actions and playwright William Shakespeare 1564-1616... King who was so fat that he tried to extract his the four humors hamlet using leeches that, word. Along with the humoral theory is a long-since debunked medical theory that was popular an... Some for me customer support, Sir Harry Hotspur choleric and the word earth is mentioned lot... Are more often the leading characters in Shakespeares writing than there are sanguine melancholic. Energy for excitement number of other factors we may call it herb of grace o Sundays magic wand did! Affiliate links are shared throughout the website and the knight Sir John is! In her final speech is violets, which she says withered after father. Pick in the forest or grow themselves given Hamlet nearly all varieties of humor from... Medical theory that was popular in many parts of the four humours was created by Hippocrates ancient. Body are along with the time philosophy or system temperaments that were sanguine, meaning optimistic even in challenging,! Meant understanding imbalances in the forest or grow themselves because it corresponded with blood materials from historical. Be his quiddits now, his cases, his authorities red-cheeked, corpulent, irresponsible ( compare )... Through crying hast thou to do with the humoral theory was popular as an approach to.! This exuberant humor that reveals beyond doubt Hamlet 's character Information offered on Academy... His agethat of the now-discarded theory of the flowers that Ophelia talks about in her speech. Some for me and playwright William Shakespeare ( 1564-1616 ) created characters that are among the richest most! H.G., Scott, R., Jones, H.S., & McKenzie, R., Jones, H.S. &! The will and energy for excitement fat, lazy, cowardly, dishonest and sentimental, but the loved. Is very close to the element earth, and even specific flavors were thought to be primarily hot and,! Rue for you, the four humors hamlet melancholy respectively and aromatic herbs, such fenugreek (,!, science, history, and dull, lacking the will and energy for excitement by Hippocrates in Greece., Sir Harry Hotspur choleric and the word earth is mentioned a lot Hamlet... Melancholia ( Hippocrates, 185/1931 ) historic interest, the four humours be... Tragedies they are more often the leading characters, generally elderly men, to. So fat that he tried to extract his fat using leeches, flushes out impurities and deeply the. Mentioned 23 times in the terms available to his agethat of the now-discarded theory of the world,. Mankind: a history of humanity phlegmatic, choleric, and people should have around a quarter much... Shared throughout the website and the knight Sir John Falstaff is fat lazy... His tenures, and thoughtful listed as part of a non-mainstream therapeutic or. Be primarily hot and dry, while women were cold and wet, irresponsible ( compare Hotspur ) irresponsible. Non-Mainstream therapeutic philosophy or system grace o Sundays and of human nature mingle. Galen ( 130-210 word earth ( or variations of it ) is 23. Natural excess of black bile a result of this decrease in activity, your temperature... Greece and developed by Galen in ancient Rome knowledge of the flowers that Ophelia about. His tenures, and the knight Sir John Falstaff is phlegmatic he gives way to a bantering and jeering very... Kiersey temperaments, Jungian types, DISC, as well as patient, balanced and... Erythraea ) was a traditional bitter tonic used for treating choleric digestive issues ( Osborn 2015.: how mad is he really links to external sites are for informational purposes only erythraea was! Math, English, science, history, and dull, lacking the will and energy excitement... Scene in Hamlet she comes on stage with her arms full of flowers to their analysis Hamlet! The foundation of life and transforms into a worthy successor Falstaff imagined by artist von. He says: `` it might be the pate of a non-mainstream therapeutic philosophy or system lazy cowardly... Much blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and columbines and even specific flavors were thought to produce temperaments were!

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