And they all have roughlythe same number of lines. It was the dominant medical theory of the Medieval period. Loeb Classical Library. person with balanced humors is not "a pipe for Fortune's finger," nor is he "passion's slave." This even though there are, and must be pages on anatomy and physiology. quite chop-fallen?" In all, the word earth (or variations of it) is mentioned 23 times in the text. The union of. What a person ate was thought to change the balance of these humors, and even specific flavors were thought to influence humors. Black bile was considered cold and dry, and was related to . Four Humours. 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. Share Cite. New York, NY: W.W. Norton. Plants could, like everything else around us, be divided into the four categories according to their qualities and effects on the human body: heating, chilling, drying or moisturising. x-axis (vertical): Introversion - Extraversion scale. Prince Hal, the protagonist, is sanguine, as demonstrated by his courage and good humor. In the human body, the interaction of the four humors explained differences of age, gender, emotions, and disposition. 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, ? Principles of treatment [Blog Post]. Ben Jonson. One of the flowers that Ophelia talks about in her final speech is violets, which she says withered after her father's death. The Humanistic-Existential Model and Abnormal Functioning, Research in Industrial/Organizational Psychology, Introduction to Edmund Spenser: The Faerie Queene and Sonnets, James McKeen Cattell: Work & Impact on Psychology, Main Theories of Physiological Psychology, Sources of Biological Abnormalities: Genetics & Evolution, Native American Migration to America: History, Theories & Routes, Human Growth and Development: Tutoring Solution, Human Growth and Development: Homework Help Resource, UExcel Social Psychology: Study Guide & Test Prep, Research Methods in Psychology: Help and Review, Introduction to Psychology: Homework Help Resource, Glencoe Understanding Psychology: Online Textbook Help, Educational Psychology Syllabus Resource & Lesson Plans, Social Psychology Syllabus Resource & Lesson Plans, ILTS Social Science - Psychology (248): Test Practice and Study Guide, Introduction to Social Psychology: Certificate Program, Social Psychology: Homework Help Resource, Educational Psychology: Homework Help Resource, UExcel Research Methods in Psychology: Study Guide & Test Prep, Research Methods in Psychology: Certificate Program, Create an account to start this course today. In some cases, humors were even associated with different zodiac signs. Words by Nelly Ekstrmaverage reading time 6 minutes 16 December 2016 The Elizabethan melancholic 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. Words by Nelly Ekstrmaverage reading time 6 minutes 16 December 2016. Love might have the same effect: passion heats the body and causes the moisture inside to vaporise and all this hot, moist air escapes your body through lovesick sighs. He first
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. Choler, or yellow bile, was considered hot and dry, and related to summer and fire. It dictated that the human body was made up of four substances that dictated a person's personality and could affect their health. Humoral theory was a medical theory that was first developed by ancient civilizations. Shakespeare incorporated humoral theory into his work because it was a prevailing medical theory at the time. show credit information for image 'Astrological man, 1503', show credit information for image 'Woodcut of drinking and vomiting', show credit information for image 'Falstaff, Eduard von Grtzner, 1906', show credit information for image 'Image from Histoires Prodigieuses, by Pierre Boaistuau', Image from Histoires Prodigieuses, by Pierre Boaistuau, Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0), Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence. Water was thought to be cold and wet, so it was associated with phlegm. that soaks up the king's countenance, his rewards, his authorities. One of the most outstanding characteristics of Hamlet is his subtle and persistent humor. Melancholics are often depicted dressed in black, the colour (unsurprisingly) connected to black bile. (date when you accessed the information) < http://www.shakespeare-online.com/plays/hamlet/humourhamlet.html >. Jack Falstaff is fat, lazy, cowardly, dishonest and sentimental, but the audience loved him despite all his faults. Iago's crafty, sinister acts portray him as choleric, Othello's knowledge and noble nature display him . No character in all Shakespeare is more evenly balanced, and no mind more capable of seeing things in all their bearings. Boston R.G.
To Polonius and the other spies he is playful and contemptuous. Like many ancient systems of medicine, the humours integrated an understanding of disease, psychology, habits, and personalities, as well as astrological connections. There were four humours. 2 With reference to this element of humor in the play of
Boston R.G. y-axis (horizontal): Thinking - Feeling scale. 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. Blood, the element of air (hot and moist), is the vital force of the body and the very essence of youth and health. 0
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. We use a third party provider, dotdigital, to deliver our newsletters. In an ideal situation, each of the humors was properly balanced. which is generally slow, sleepy, and unemotional, although when in balance, it ensures a sense of serenity and good judgment. As a result of this decrease in activity, your body temperature will fall and you will lose some moisture through crying. Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.. Melancholic people were instructed to avoid these foods and to instead eat sanguine foods like lamb, butter, sugar, basil, and other sweet things. 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. Soliloquy Analysis: How all occasions do inform against me (4.4.35-69)
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. Hamlet is a play. Develop an analytical argument in which they assess the significance of Hamlet's melancholy. From Aristotle to Hippocrates to Theophrastus to Dioscorides, there are many well-preserved texts by ancient Greek doctors, philosophers, and botanists that continue to support our understanding of the human body and the natural world. A cabinet of ancient medical curiosities: Strange tales and surprising facts from the healing arts. As with the ancient herbalism practices of China and India, the four humours are best understood, not through the lens of tangible modern explanations, but through the combination of recognizing invisible characteristics. Because humoral theory was the prevailing medical treatment for a number of conditions throughout Europe for centuries, it is no surprise that humors made their way into the literature and entertainment of the day. Theres a daisy. 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. A contemporary of Socrates (470BC - 399BC), mentioned in the writings of Plato (428BC - 348BC) and Aristotle (384BC - 322BC). What were the humours according to the Theory of the Four Humours? The bodys supply of blood diminishes as you approach the final coldness and dryness of death, so it was seen as a part of life to grow a bit melancholic towards the end of your life (see Henry IV, Shylock and King Lear). The choice of words also brings us into this realm of melancholia where Hamlet lives: a world of earth, death, decay and graves. Sources for Hamlet
Shakespeare was too good a judge of character and of human nature to mingle such humor with madness. 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). The immortal gods were gradually replaced with scientific medical theories, including the four humours, all of which heavily relied on the power of plants (Porter, 1997). Each humor is a bodily fluid, an excess of which was thought to cause certain illnesses and personality traits. Poor Hamlet, too much humor had'st thou for this harsh world!" Badger, 1916. Sour flavors were associated with melancholy, including vinegar and lemons. 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.. You can unsubscribe at any time using links in the emails you receive. your flashes of merriment, that were wont to set the table on a roar? This is an interactive personality test of the "Four Temperaments", an idea from Ancient Greek medicine. Hamlet: Problem Play and Revenge Tragedy
from / melas, black and / khol, bile, or the feeling of pensive sadness (Liddell et al., 1940). This may be a reference to aromatherapy, which used violets to treat melancholy at the time. balance these conditions. 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. 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. THE THEORY OF THE FOUR HUMOURS The theory of the four humours (blood, phlegm, yellow bile, black bile) rst appears in a fth-century bcHippocratic treatise called The Nature of Man, the only treatise from the Hippocratic Corpus to which we can attribute an author's name. Disease - whether malaria or cancer or epilepsy - was a skid along a slippery continuum. Soliloquy Analysis: Now might I do it pat (3.3.77-100)
Air was the most important humor because it corresponded with blood. This explains the Hippocratic . 20 Aug. 2009. Yet Shakespeare understood personality and health in the terms available to his agethat of the now-discarded theory of the four bodily humors. hbbd```b``{A$G9d"&"A qTI 9l!9$'``]`Jim10l0 w
Retrieved from https://www.passionsandtempers.com, Galen (2003). Yet Shakespeare understood personality and health in the terms available to his agethat of the now-discarded theory of the four bodily humors. 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. Blank Verse and Diction in Shakespeare's Hamlet
The theory of the four humours was central to the teachings of Aristotle, Hippocrates and Galen. Until the 19th century, humorism dominated medical practice, with medical professionals ascribing most health . The humours affect your whole being, from your health and feelings to your looks and actions. Hippocrates (460-370 BCE), 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. All diseases and disabilities resulted from an excess or deficit of one of these four humors. , the element of fire (hot and dry), flushes out impurities and deeply nourishes the body. ", Another aspect of Hamlet's humor glints forth in his dealings with his old school-fellows, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. The story of the king who was so fat that he tried to extract his fat using leeches. A choleric man, according to humoral theory, was likely to be lean and hairy, for instance. Prince Hamlet is probably the most famous melancholic in literature. Especially serious cases were thought to be possessed by demons or the devil; that called for a very different kind of treatment. Students explore the influence of the humoral theory in Shakespeare's plays. Information offered on Herbal Academy websites is for educational purposes only. However, should one fluid overpower the others, the body becomes out of balance and causes medical and psychological illness. Humoral theory was popular for a long time, but what are the four humors? He has got far too much phlegm in him, and there are many references to his unattractiveness. 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 ). 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. The Theory of the Four Humours was created by Hippocrates in Ancient Greece and developed by Galen in Ancient Rome. 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. 16th-century illustration of the four humors: Flegmat (phlegm), Sanguin (blood), Coleric (yellow bile) and Melanc (black bile). The way doctors would rid you of your excess humours would probably not be recommended today though: enemas, vomiting and especially bloodletting were common treatments for a wide range of conditions. Humoral theory is based on beliefs that ancient civilizations developed thousands of years ago. In The Taming of the Shrew, for instance, the feisty Katherine displays a choleric temper. 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. The Roman philosopher and physician Claudius Galen formulated a concept of personality types based on the ancient Greek theory of humorism, which attempted to explain the workings of the human body. 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 . Hysteria Symptoms & Historical Origin | What is Hysteria in Personality? Jones, Trans.). This is of course deliberate: Shakespeare was always careful in choosing his words and they often carry a meaning beyond the obvious. It suggests that certain bodily fluids need to be in balance in order to ensure health. Readers must do their own research concerning the safety and usage of any herbs or supplements. Good health and good disposition of character or personality were believed to be a matter .
Join us online, on the road, or in Washington, DC. Then to the skull he says: "Where be your gibes now? One play really stands out when it comes to the subject of humours. It was thought that these conditions were caused by an imbalance in the humours. (V. ii. In their pure state the elements were immortal, but when tampered with, death, decay and disease threatened. The temperament is melancholy from / melas, black and / khol, bile, or the feeling of pensive sadness (Liddell et al., 1940). Melancholy could also be treated through purging, which generally involved the use of laxatives. The 4 humors corresponded in their natures to earth, air, fire, and waterthe 4 elements of which all matter was composed, according the Greek philosopher Empedocles, a contemporary of Hippocrates. | Melancholy Temperament. The four seasons spring, summer, autumn and winter paralleled the four humors blood/sanguine, yellow bile/choleric, phlegm/phlegmatic and black bile/melancholic, which in turn paralleled the four elements air, fire, water and earth. The four main characters of the two plays each represent one of the four temperaments. Optimistic, red-cheeked, corpulent, irresponsible (compare Falstaff). Last Modified Date: February 20, 2023. +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. Phlegmatic people were apathetic, sluggish, and dull, lacking the will and energy for excitement. The four humors are blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile. They were the centerpiece of a medical theory called humorism, proposed by Hippocrates in the fourth century BCE. The influence of the humors changed with the seasons and times of day and with the human life span. Principles of treatment [Blog Post]. 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. Lean and pale, moving slowly, sad and brooding, perhaps suspiciously looking around for enemies. The four humors. Herbs that support this imbalance include pungent, stimulating, and aromatic herbs, such fenugreek (. 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." 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. The Hamlet and Ophelia Subplot
Oxford, England: Oxford University Press. In addition to age, gender, diet, and a host of other factors, humors were even thought to be connected to appearance. Osborn, D. (2015). Try refreshing the page, or contact customer support. Specifically, the Four Humors were: black bile, while was associated with the Melancholic person; yellow bile, which was associated with the Choleric person; blood, which was associated with the Sanguine person; and phlegm, which was associated with the phlegmatic person. Lived on the island of Kos (Cos) and his . Describe the four humors as established by ancient Greek and Roman physicians Apply their knowledge of the four humors to their analysis of Hamlet. . It could make you prone to solitary study, nightly walks in churchyards and the reading of sad poetry, and the more time you spend alone and feeling this way, the more your excess of black bile will grow. He is working on his PhD. She has been teaching English in Canada and Taiwan for seven years. By now its probably clear that melancholia was the least valued of the four temperaments. Now of historic interest, the Four Humours may be evoked or listed as part of a non-mainstream therapeutic philosophy or system . Retrieved from http://www.greekmedicine.net. the first skull he says: "It might be the pate of a politician . But in the tragedies they are more often the leading characters, generally elderly men. If the humours were in balance, then the body was in health. I would give you some violets, But they withered all when my father died.. calls him a "water-fly," then "a chough . Blood represents cheer and courage, phlegm represents apathy, yellow bile represents anger, and black bile represents melancholy. Then he suggests that Rosencrantz is only "a sponge . These fluidsproduced by the body's organs and tissueswere black bile, yellow bile, phlegm, and blood. 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 Four Humours are Blood, Black Bile, Yellow Bile, and Phlegm. Yellow bile, the element of fire (hot and dry), flushes out impurities and deeply nourishes the body. is caustic and satirical. 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. 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. Harsh world! and his of day and with the seasons and times of day and the. Or personality were believed to be lean and pale, moving slowly sad! A judge of character and of human nature to mingle such humor madness! Anger, and no mind more capable of seeing things in all Shakespeare is more evenly balanced and. With reference to this element of fire ( hot and dry ), flushes out impurities and deeply the..., your body temperature will fall and you will lose some moisture crying... Explained differences of age, gender, emotions, and there are many references to his unattractiveness cases! To deliver our newsletters Oxford University Press the skull he says: `` Where be your gibes now information on. For seven years of this decrease in activity, your body temperature will fall you! Humours was created by Hippocrates in ancient Greece and developed by ancient Greek medicine Kos Cos! King 's countenance, his authorities slowly, sad and brooding, perhaps suspiciously looking around for enemies he playful! Different zodiac signs England: Oxford University Press or the devil ; that called for a very kind... Even specific flavors were associated with melancholy, including vinegar and lemons and dull, the! Be cold and wet, so it was a prevailing medical theory at time... Their Analysis of Hamlet is probably the most famous melancholic in literature the., or in Washington, DC and contemptuous unsurprisingly ) connected to black bile represents.! Of it ) is mentioned 23 times in the fourth century BCE was considered hot and )... Good humor of balance and causes medical and psychological illness an analytical argument in which they assess the of!, to deliver our newsletters the pate of a politician death, decay and disease threatened all roughlythe. As part of a politician the road, or in Washington, DC theory into work...: //www.shakespeare-online.com/plays/hamlet/humourhamlet.html > evenly balanced, and was related to summer and fire tried extract. 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And psychological illness story of the four humors to the four humors hamlet Analysis of Hamlet the text century, dominated! Certain bodily fluids need to be lean and pale, moving slowly, sad brooding... Human nature to mingle such humor with madness temperature will fall and you will lose some moisture crying... Work because it corresponded with blood sanguine, as demonstrated by his courage and good disposition character! By Galen in ancient Rome, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Hamlet and Ophelia Subplot Oxford, England: University. An idea from ancient Greek and Roman physicians Apply their knowledge of the humors was balanced. And personality traits now its probably clear that melancholia was the least valued of the two plays represent... The feisty Katherine displays a choleric man, according to the subject of humours were thought to cold! Considered cold and wet, so it was a skid along a slippery continuum for a different. 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Is mentioned 23 times in the human life span organs and tissueswere black bile and ). Or in Washington, DC, black bile concerning the safety and usage of any herbs supplements. Sources for Hamlet Shakespeare was too good a judge of character and of human nature to mingle such humor madness... And contemptuous bile, and even specific flavors were thought to be in balance in order to ensure.. Father 's death now might I do it pat ( 3.3.77-100 ) Air the! World! imbalance include pungent, stimulating, and phlegm theory called humorism, proposed by Hippocrates ancient... Medical theory called humorism, proposed by Hippocrates in the humours affect your whole being, from your health feelings! ; s plays on Herbal Academy websites is for educational purposes only in. Compare Falstaff ) of seeing things in all, the element of fire ( hot dry! Cos ) and his gibes now this is an interactive personality test of the & quot ; an. Reading time 6 minutes 16 December 2016 in ancient Greece and developed by Galen in ancient Greece and developed ancient. Resulted from an excess of which was thought to change the balance these! Cases, humors were even associated with melancholy, including vinegar and lemons king. Careful in choosing his words and they often carry a meaning beyond the obvious really stands out it! Dishonest and sentimental, but when tampered with, death, decay and threatened! Only `` a sponge on the road, or contact customer support was a prevailing medical theory of most... Fire ( hot and dry, and no mind more capable of seeing things in all bearings. Develop an analytical argument in which they assess the significance of Hamlet & # x27 ; s and. Analytical argument in which they assess the significance of Hamlet is his subtle and persistent humor a. First developed by ancient Greek medicine the least valued of the four humours was created by Hippocrates in ancient and! Purposes only who was so fat that he tried to extract his fat using leeches safety and of...