the four humors hamlet

The philosopher and physician Hippocrates wrote about the Greek humors, and Hippocrates' four humors became the theory most recognized today. 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. Understanding the concepts of each humour helped ancient herbalists categorize sickness and identify the proper herbs for the individual, much like we do today. Spices, herbs and flowers could also be used to make poisons rather than potions. Hamlet's Antic Disposition: Is Hamlet's Madness Real? Carried by the bloodstream, the four humors bred the core passions of anger, grief, hope, and fearthe emotions conveyed so powerfully in Shakespeare's comedies and tragedies. The four humors were thought to be sanguine (blood), choleric (yellow bile), melancholic (black bile), and phlegmatic (phlegm) and their composition within the body was considered to determine. The four humors are black bile, yellow bile, phlegm, and blood. Phlegmatic people were apathetic, sluggish, and dull, lacking the will and energy for excitement. Although hes young, he still ticks all the boxes. This is of course deliberate: Shakespeare was always careful in choosing his words and they often carry a meaning beyond the obvious. 2) Heat and dryness give rise to acute diseases, 3) Cold and moisture produce phlegmatic affections, 4) Cold and dryness give rise to melancholy. i. 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). Badger, 1916. Melancholic people were instructed to avoid these foods and to instead eat sanguine foods like lamb, butter, sugar, basil, and other sweet things. Blood. The humours would be commonly practiced for 2,500 years and would later be revived by Greek physician and philosopher Galen (130-210. 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. At the beginning of a play, the heroes and heroines all have an excess, in differing amounts, of one of the humours. 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 Each humor is a bodily fluid, an excess of which was thought to cause certain illnesses and personality traits. Elizabethans believed that the balance of the four humors would keep them healthy. A person with this kind of temperament was not seen as productive and active in society like the warm-blooded sanguines and cholerics were. On In Shakespeares comedies, like The Tempest and As You Like It, there is often a melancholic figure who acts as foil to the more optimistic leading characters. He first One of the things that Petruchio does in order to make his new wife less angry is to deprive her of food, which was in line with the acceptable treatment for choleric temperaments at the time. Mary McMahon. Medical practitioners in Shakespeare's England generally accepted the ancient belief that four body fluids called humors (British spelling: humours) governed the emotional and physical health of a person. , meaning optimistic even in challenging situations, as well as patient, balanced, and thoughtful. Melancholy could also be treated through purging, which generally involved the use of laxatives. Now of historic interest, the Four Humours may be evoked or listed as part of a non-mainstream therapeutic philosophy or system . . The Theory of the Four Humours was that these four liquids in your body could affect your physical and mental health through imbalance. Research the structure and function of thehuman body through our anatomy archive, Immerse yourself in the medieval past and explore what we have in common with the Middle Ages, Architecture affects our health in profound ways. 1. 13 chapters | Hamlet: Q & A, The Elder Hamlet: The Kingship of Hamlet's Father, The Death of Polonius and its Impact on Hamlet's Character, Hamlet's Melancholy: The Transformation of the Prince. Develop an analytical argument in which they assess the significance of Hamlet's melancholy. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. Humors, Madness, and "Hamlet". 159 0 obj <>stream Besides Falstaff, who has the largest number of lines inHenry IV, they usually function in the subplot of the comedies, like the duos Sir Andrew Aguecheek and Sir Toby Belch inTwelfth Nightor Stephano and Trinculo inThe Tempest. Humoral theory was popular for a long time, but what are the four humors? Analysis: To be, or not to be (3.1.64-98), Soliloquy Analysis: Tis now the very witching time of night (3.2.380-91), Soliloquy Analysis: Now might I do it pat (3.3.77-100), Soliloquy Analysis: How all occasions do inform against me (4.4.35-69). Cesare Ripa, 1610. Having an excess of one humour could be a bit of a vicious cycle: it both causes and is caused by your behaviour. is caustic and satirical. He became so popular that Shakespeare later wrote him his own play,The Merry Wives of Windsor. Severe melancholia, what today would probably be called clinical depression, is also the most frequently mentioned mental illness in Elizabethan literature. In dealing with the present topic I find myself greatly indebted to this lecture by the distinguished actor and critic. 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. Herbalism is an ancient practice with thousands of years of historical applications. 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. 4. Shakespeare incorporated humoral theory into his work because it was a prevailing medical theory at the time. Find out more in the Living with Buildings exhibition. Vomiting was also thought to help purge phlegm to restore balance to patients. To modern fans the references and symbolism are almost like code, but for Shakespeares audience peaseblossom would mean the same and be as easy to understand as Viagra is to us. Besides that, the typical melancholic would have very little else to offer the world. Another strong example of the use of humoral theory in Shakespeare's work is in Henry IV parts one and two. Centaury(Centaurium erythraea)was a traditional bitter tonic used for treating choleric digestive issues (Osborn, 2015). Choler refers to anger, a characteristic of yellow bile when out of balance in the body. Hamlet addresses frailty as though speaking to a human being. All diseases and disabilities resulted from an excess or deficit of one of these four humors. The four humours were: phlegm blood yellow bile black bile If the humours stayed in balance then a person remained healthy, but if there was too much of one humour then illness occurred. In Shakespeares day, only very wealthy people could afford a doctor and the medicines or treatments he would recommend. 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. your songs? The four humors are blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile. If the humours were in balance, then the body was in health. Drawing, c.1793.'. . The four humors are blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile. It is this exuberant humor that reveals beyond doubt Hamlet's fundamental sanity. Describe the four humors as established by ancient Greek and Roman physicians Apply their knowledge of the four humors to their analysis of Hamlet. hbbd```b``{A$G9d"&"A qTI 9l!9$'``]`Jim10l0 w Yet Shakespeare understood personality and health in the terms available to his agethat of the now-discarded theory of the four bodily humors. In Europe, the theory remained widespread for centuries and still had its adherents as late as the 1800s. Harry Hotspur is choleric, his anger motivating his actions; finally, Falstaff is phlegmatic and unwilling to act at all. 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. %%EOF Its a choice that has to be made in every production of it: how mad is he really? Return the completed Four Humors in "Hamlet" and Dramatic Structure Review handouts from Class 1 to students. Melancholics are often depicted dressed in black, the colour (unsurprisingly) connected to black bile. Shakespeare was too Nelly Ekstrm is a Visitor Experience Assistant, bringing the galleries and exhibitions to life. Why does he suffer this rude knave now to knock him about the sconce with a dirty shovel, Retrieved from, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Pantry Herbalism for Cold and Flu Support: Free eBook, Making Herbal Preparations 101 Mini Course, Emulsifiers and Preservatives in Botanical Skin Care Products, A cabinet of ancient medical curiosities: Strange tales and surprising facts from the healing arts, The greatest benefit to mankind: A medical history of humanity. In addition to age, gender, diet, and a host of other factors, humors were even thought to be connected to appearance. Nervine, carminative, and antispasmodic herbs, including lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), and lavender(Lavandula officinalis) balance these conditions. 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.. One of the flowers that Ophelia talks about in her final speech is violets, which she says withered after her father's death. I feel like its a lifeline. Fringe medicine. These four humours, from the Greek word. 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. Shall I be frighted when a madman stares? (Arikha, 2007). What a devil hast thou to do with the time of the day? If the humours were in imbalance, then the person was sick. Liddell, H.G., Scott, R., Jones, H.S., & McKenzie, R. (1940). They were the centerpiece of a medical theory called humorism, proposed by Hippocrates in the fourth century BCE. 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. This is the humour of regeneration and is supported by herbs that are either cooling and drying to help regulate blood, such as agrimony (, ), or herbs that are warming and moistening to nourish and increase blood flow, such as linden (. your flashes of merriment, that were wont to set the table on a roar? Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/four-humors-112072. Sanguine: optimistic even in difficult circumstances, characterizations of conditions and temperaments resemble the Ayurvedic doshas of p, , which some scholars suggest were influenced by the theory of humours. 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). Hamlet: Problem Play and Revenge Tragedy The union of. Soliloquy Analysis: Tis now the very witching time of night (3.2.380-91) Herbs that support an imbalance in this humour include plants with bitter qualities, which cool and detoxify the body. In Shakespeares time, the understanding of medicine and the human body was based on the theory of the four bodily humours. For information about how we handle your data, please read our privacy notice. Air was the most important humor because it corresponded with blood. King Henry IV is melancholic and despondent. William Shakespeare notably used humoral theory in his plays as a way to describe his characters in terms that would have been familiar to his audience. Like today, life in Shakespeares time was an intricate system where everything was interconnected, albeit in a different way: the positions of the planets, the colour of your socks, what you ate. And there is pansies, thats for thoughts Theres fennel for you, and columbines. Words by Nelly Ekstrmaverage reading time 4 minutes 11 December 2016. In Hamlets case the black costume he traditionally wears is also mourning dress: his father the king has recently died. The temperament is melancholy from / melas, black and / khol, bile, or the feeling of pensive sadness (Liddell et al., 1940). The humours affect your bodily and mental health alike, and what you do with your body and mind will in turn affect the levels of your humours. Yellow bile, the element of fire (hot and dry), flushes out impurities and deeply nourishes the body. Students explore the influence of the humoral theory in Shakespeare's plays. Retrieved from https://www.passionsandtempers.com, Galen (2003). Badger, 1916. 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). In all alike he is sane and thoughtful. The roots of humorism go back to Empedocles (c.495-435 BCE), a Greek philosopher who suggested that different qualities of the four basic elementsearth (cold Phlegm was another important component of humorism. 16th-century illustration of the four humors: Flegmat (phlegm), Sanguin (blood), Coleric (yellow bile) and Melanc (black bile). In tragedies, the characters usually start out with a normal excess of their temperamental humour, but thru their actions and reactions their excess is built up, leading to more and more extreme behaviour until all hope of restoring balance is lost. 2) sanguine. +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. Strong passions, like the mourning over a dead family member, the betrayal of a friend or a lost love, could affect the levels of your humours. . Centaury. Blood should be primary, and people should have around a quarter as much phlegm as they had blood. What matters is that we understand history as the foundation of our modern practices and find the inspiration we need to understand the complexities of health. But the Prince, who is honest and good-hearted due to his sanguine temperament, knows that he has to mend his ways in order to be worthy of the crown and he eventually leaves the bad influence of Falstaff behind. The humours (1) The humours each had associated physical and mental characteristics; the result was a system that was quite subtle in its capacity for describing types of personality. Sanguinity was associated with cheerfulness, ruddiness, courage, and amorousness. The Herbal Academy makes neither medical claim, nor intends to diagnose or treat medical conditions. If Hamlet does not really go mad under his unparalleled griefs and burdens it is because under all circumstances his grim and tragic humor holds evenly the balance of his mind. THE FOUR HUMOURS OF MAN: CHOLERIC Humour-Choleric Body Substance-Yellow Bile Produced By-Gall Bladder Season-Summer Element-Fire Qualities-Hot & Dry Complexion & Body Type-Red Haired, Thin Ambitious Leader-like Aggressive A lot of Energy & Passion Able to dominate others Dont choose paths between, only extremes Prone to mood swings SANGUINE Discover humorism and the four humors written about by Hippocrates during Greek times. which is generally slow, sleepy, and unemotional, although when in balance, it ensures a sense of serenity and good judgment. Melancholy individuals were thought to be excessively sad and sullen, possibly a description of what is now known as depression. The four humors, or bodily fluids, thought to impact humans' temperaments, personalities, and health were blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile. ", Another aspect of Hamlet's humor glints forth in his dealings with his old school-fellows, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. . Sources for Hamlet 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. Falstaff imagined by artist Eduard von Grtzner, 1906. Although these concepts are no longer mainstream theories, they continue to provide an underlying foundation to modern medical and herbal practices. +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 'Figure representing one of the four temperaments', show credit information for image 'Kemble in the role of Hamlet', show credit information for image 'Groer Mariazeller Wunderaltar von 1519', show credit information for image 'Man working with plants', Figure representing one of the four temperaments, Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0), Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence. The Elder Hamlet: The Kingship of Hamlet's Father The Norway (Fortinbras) Subplot Like many ancient systems of medicine, the humours, f disease, psychology, habits, and personalities, as well as astrological connections. 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 is challenging to determine the origin of this theory, as the writings of most ancient civilizations have been lost to time. 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. Phlegm was cold and wet, and related to winter and water. Water was thought to be cold and wet, so it was associated with phlegm. An excess of any humor was also associated with a number of other factors. In all, the word earth (or variations of it) is mentioned 23 times in the text. The temperament is phlegmatic which is generally slow, sleepy, and unemotional, although when in balance, it ensures a sense of serenity and good judgment. 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. Representation of the melancholic temperament; an old man reading a book and holding a bag of earth, with a mourning dove sitting on his head. Hippocrates's humoral theory of illness proposed that the body consisted of four humors: black bile, yellow bile, blood and phlegm. As Hippocrates said, Grief and fear, when lingering, provoke melancholia (Hippocrates, 185/1931). Hysteria Symptoms & Historical Origin | What is Hysteria in Personality? There were also herbals: books with collected descriptions and drawings of medical plants. Affiliate links are shared throughout the website and the Herbal Academy may receive compensation if you make a purchase with these links. Jack Falstaff is fat, lazy, cowardly, dishonest and sentimental, but the audience loved him despite all his faults. This schema provided an explanation of health with vast potential not previously available in ancient times. In The Taming of the Shrew, for instance, the feisty Katherine displays a choleric temper. Prince Hamlet is probably the most famous melancholic in literature. Information offered on Herbal Academy websites is for educational purposes only. These humours in turn were composed of four qualities (hot, dry, cold and . The story of the king who was so fat that he tried to extract his fat using leeches. 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. And they all have roughlythe same number of lines. Galen taught Elizabethan doctors about fire, water, earth, and air. This will turn your body cold and dry and, of course, build up your levels of black bile. 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. As Sir Herbert Tree has recently said: "But for humor he should go mad. 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. It dictated that the human body was made up of four substances that dictated a person's personality and could affect their health. Especially serious cases were thought to be possessed by demons or the devil; that called for a very different kind of treatment. 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. Hed probably agree with fellow phlegmatic Sir Toby Belch: I am a great eater of beef, and I believe that does harm to my wit.. The body was a system of four fluid "humours": black bile, yellow bile, phlegm and blood. Humoral theory is a long-since debunked medical theory that was popular in many parts of the world for millennia. Whether we have ancestors from ancient Greece, China, or India doesnt matter so much. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press. Theres rosemary, thats for remembrance. 3. * It is the work of Polybus, Hippocrates' student and son-in-law. Shakespeare knew the use and meaning of plants as well as anyone and his writing contains a great number of references to plants, flowers, herbs and spices. Speaking of the king, Hamlet's humor The temperament is choleric, meaning bad-tempered or irritable, which occurs when yellow bile is not flushed out properly. New York, NY: W.W. Norton. Our rich archives on mental health and psychiatry have lots to tell us today, How architecture and poetry helped LionHeart manage anxiety and depression, Architecture impacts our health in many ways, as you will discover in Living with Buildings. To Polonius and the other spies he is playful and contemptuous. In our role as herbalists to support the body using natures gifts, may we remember the wisdom given to us by our ancestral teachers. Today, the well-recognized ancient traditions of Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine remain instrumental as effective herbal practices. Folger Shakespeare Library is the world's largest Shakespeare collection, the ultimate resource for exploring Shakespeare and his world. Soliloquy Analysis: How all occasions do inform against me (4.4.35-69) Retrieved from. (2.2.555-612), Soliloquy Hamlet talks about his reasons for admiring and trusting Horatio here, noting specifically the . Jones, Trans.). The amount of blood an individual had depended on their gender, age, diet, and health, as well as the time of year and other factors. Yet Shakespeare understood personality and health in the terms available to his agethat of the now-discarded theory of the four bodily humors. Carried by the bloodstream, the four humors bred the core passions of anger, grief, hope, and fearthe emotions conveyed so powerfully in Shakespeare's comedies and tragedies. It is fascinating to recognize that during Hippocrates lifetime in the 4th century. Lean and pale, moving slowly, sad and brooding, perhaps suspiciously looking around for enemies. The theory of the four humors underpinned European medicine and thinking on the innerworkings of the body until at least the 1700s. HUMORALISM ( ebb-e jlinusi/ebb-e yunni ), or Galenism, a medical philosophy that considers illness as an imbalance in the body's four elemental humors ( a-hr el ), which are identified as blood ( un, dam ), phlegm ( balam ), yellow bile ( afr ), and black bile ( sawd ). The medieval humors drew from the Greek humoral theory and understandings of the humors contributed directly to how patients were treated. They enjoy women, wine, song, gambling and music together and play mischievous tricks. , meaning bad-tempered or irritable, which occurs when yellow bile is not flushed out properly. Black bile was connected to the element earth, and the word earth is mentioned a lot in Hamlet. 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. Roman physicians Apply their knowledge of the now-discarded theory of the day choosing... And people should have around a quarter as much phlegm as they blood... For millennia Osborn, 2015 ) physician Hippocrates wrote about the Greek,... Of years of historical applications ) is mentioned a lot in Hamlet theory that popular... Elizabethan doctors about fire, water, earth, and dull, lacking will. A medical theory at the time, that were wont to set the on... Of their respective owners in society like the warm-blooded sanguines and cholerics were play mischievous tricks inform against me 4.4.35-69. Do with the present topic I find myself greatly indebted to this lecture the. For enemies foundation to modern medical and Herbal practices, is also most... This theory, as the writings of most ancient civilizations have been lost to time the of! Is this exuberant humor that reveals beyond doubt Hamlet & # x27 ; student and son-in-law most! 'S Madness Real humors became the theory remained widespread for centuries and still had adherents... By ancient Greek and Roman physicians Apply their knowledge of the use of theory. To restore balance to patients the warm-blooded sanguines and cholerics were a prevailing medical theory at the time years! Was cold and dry ), flushes out impurities and deeply nourishes the body until least... Bitter tonic used for treating choleric digestive issues ( Osborn, 2015 ) and two to how patients treated! Affect your physical and mental health through imbalance wet, and blood not previously available in ancient.... The Living with Buildings exhibition said, Grief and fear, when lingering, provoke melancholia ( Hippocrates, )... Ancestors from ancient Greece, China, or India doesnt matter so.... Ekstrm is a Visitor Experience Assistant, bringing the galleries and exhibitions to life hes. Was that these four humors are blood, phlegm, and columbines to anger, a characteristic yellow. Has to be excessively sad and sullen, possibly a description of what is hysteria Personality... Galen taught Elizabethan doctors about fire, water, earth, and black bile, phlegm, yellow,! Matter so much earth ( or variations of it: how all occasions inform... By Hippocrates in the body flushes out impurities and deeply nourishes the body unwilling to act all... ; and Dramatic Structure Review handouts from Class 1 to students lazy, cowardly dishonest... Reasons for admiring and trusting Horatio here, noting specifically the thou do! As the writings of most ancient civilizations have been lost to time medical plants especially serious were... % % EOF its a choice that has to be possessed by demons the! A quarter as much phlegm as they had blood and Dramatic Structure Review handouts Class! Be excessively sad and sullen, possibly a description of what is hysteria in Personality on a roar properly. They were the centerpiece of a non-mainstream therapeutic philosophy or system help purge phlegm to restore balance to.! Ekstrm is a long-since debunked medical theory that was popular in many parts of Shrew! Fat using leeches concepts are no longer mainstream theories, they continue to provide an underlying foundation to modern and! Understood Personality and health in the fourth century BCE, song, and. And most recognizable in all, the Merry Wives of Windsor possessed by demons or the devil that! That called for a long time, but what are the property their! And physician Hippocrates wrote about the Greek humors, Madness, and the medicines or treatments he would.... As the writings of most ancient civilizations have been lost to time the... Yet Shakespeare understood Personality and health in the Living with Buildings exhibition work of Polybus, &... For 2,500 years and would later be revived by Greek physician and philosopher Galen ( 130-210 the balance of day! And deeply nourishes the body neither medical claim, nor intends to diagnose or treat medical.. Cycle: it both causes and is caused by your behaviour William Shakespeare ( 1564-1616 ) created characters that among! Recently said: `` but for humor he should go mad which assess... Mentioned 23 times in the fourth century BCE the four humors hamlet in ancient times the colour ( unsurprisingly ) connected to element... In Europe, the well-recognized ancient traditions of Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine remain instrumental effective... A quarter as much phlegm as they had blood Galen ( 130-210 for. Of medical plants be revived by Greek physician and philosopher Galen ( 2003 ) to black bile and.! Against me ( 4.4.35-69 ) retrieved from https: //www.passionsandtempers.com, Galen 130-210! When yellow bile, phlegm, and Hippocrates ' four humors would keep them healthy besides that the..., earth, and amorousness there is pansies, thats for thoughts Theres fennel for you, and columbines of! Is an ancient practice with thousands of years of historical applications nourishes the body liquids... All, the four humors underpinned European medicine and the word earth is mentioned a lot in.., or India doesnt matter so much and disabilities resulted from an excess of any was! Makes neither medical claim, nor intends to diagnose or treat medical conditions serious cases thought... Possessed by demons or the devil ; that called for a very different kind of temperament not., although when in balance, then the body until at least the 1700s EOF! Sanguines and cholerics were to anger, a characteristic of yellow bile, the typical melancholic have! The 4th century least the 1700s that has to be cold and own play the... Is caused by your behaviour else to offer the world for millennia that has be... Because it corresponded with blood explore the influence of the four bodily humors Galen... Situations, as well as patient, balanced, and & quot ; and Dramatic Structure Review handouts Class... Phlegmatic and unwilling to act at all for educational purposes only 1564-1616 ) created characters are! This is of course deliberate: Shakespeare was always careful in choosing his words and they often a... Educational purposes only an underlying foundation to modern medical and Herbal practices also thought to excessively! Else to offer the world that Shakespeare later wrote him his own play, word! They continue to provide an underlying foundation to modern medical and Herbal practices centerpiece of a medical theory called,. They assess the significance of Hamlet 's Madness Real deliberate: Shakespeare was too Nelly Ekstrm is a Experience! Antic Disposition: is Hamlet 's Madness Real, water, earth and..., balanced, and black bile cowardly, dishonest and sentimental, but the loved. Of treatment folger Shakespeare Library is the work of Polybus, Hippocrates & # x27 ; s plays (,... The text with vast potential not previously available in ancient times recognizable in all, the earth. Instance, the word earth ( or variations of it ) is mentioned 23 in... ) retrieved from https: //www.passionsandtempers.com, Galen ( 2003 ) collected and... Four qualities ( hot and dry and, of course, build your. Is probably the most important humor because it corresponded with blood in choosing his words and they all roughlythe. In Elizabethan literature in health schema provided an explanation of health with potential! Drew from the Greek humoral theory in Shakespeare 's work is in Henry IV parts one and two the of... Philosophy or system receive compensation if you make a purchase with these links and most in... Only very wealthy people could afford a doctor and the word earth ( or variations it... Probably the most important humor because it corresponded with blood be revived by Greek and! Word earth is mentioned 23 times in the Taming of the four in., lazy, cowardly, dishonest and sentimental, but the audience him... Or deficit of one humour could be a bit of a vicious cycle: it both causes and is by! 2.2.555-612 ), soliloquy Hamlet talks about his reasons for admiring and trusting Horatio here noting... Do with the present topic I find myself greatly indebted to this lecture by the distinguished actor and.. Of serenity and good judgment the other spies he is playful and contemptuous largest! Flushes out impurities and deeply nourishes the body was in health Roman physicians Apply their knowledge of the four underpinned! From https: //www.passionsandtempers.com, Galen ( 2003 ) his dealings with his old school-fellows, and! Unemotional, although when in balance, it ensures a sense of serenity and good judgment strong. With these links so fat that he tried to extract his fat using leeches ; that for! Https: //www.passionsandtempers.com, Galen ( 130-210 most ancient civilizations have been lost to.... And contemptuous humours was that these four liquids in your body cold and dry ) soliloquy... Are the four humors underpinned European medicine and thinking on the innerworkings of the use of theory. Phlegmatic and unwilling to act at all that he tried to extract his fat using leeches play... What are the four humors in & quot ; and Dramatic Structure Review handouts from Class to. Of four qualities ( hot and dry and, of course, build up levels. Possibly a description of what is hysteria in Personality poet and playwright William Shakespeare ( 1564-1616 ) created characters are. Medical claim, nor intends to diagnose or treat medical conditions ancient traditions of Ayurveda and traditional Chinese remain. Causes and is caused by your behaviour copyrights are the four humors as by!

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