As infamous as Shakespeare is, and as well known as his works are, some prose are just simply more extraordinary than the rest. There are many ways to look at Jaques speech, such as use of language or imagery yet, something we often do not reflect on is the sound of the prose. When reading this particular speech, the subject is directly related to the sounds Shakespeare has chosen. We are guided gracefully through the …showed first 75 words of 759 total…

…showed last 75 words of 759 total…Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything." (2.7.166). Therefore as the reader speaks this speech, he is actually acting out how speech is gained and then is eventually lost. Through his effective use of sound, Shakespeare successfully guides the reader along the seven stages of life, masterfully using the sounds which are apparent during the actual stages themselves. Bibliography Shakespeare, William, "As You Like It", The Riverside Shakespeare, Evans et al., (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1974) 365-400.