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Parodies of All the World's a Stage

Shakespeare’s "All the world's a stage" monologue from As You Like It is a favorite for parody due to its cynical, structured view of life’s "seven ages."

Notable Parodies and Humorous Adaptations

• "All the World's a Cage": A satirical poem that reimagines the "stages" of life as various forms of confinement and social obligation, replacing the "players" with people "merely shut in."
• The Seven Ages of the Digital Man: Modern internet-era parodies often update the stages to reflect technology, such as:
  • The Toddler with the iPad
  • The Influencer seeking the "bubble reputation" via viral TikToks and social media.
• Shakespeare Mad Libs: Interactive versions that allow users to swap out the classic seven ages (infant, schoolboy, lover, soldier, justice, pantaloon, second childishness) with absurd nouns and verbs to create a comedic effect.
• "All the World's My Stage": A series of humorous plays that use the monologue as a springboard for classroom-friendly historical and language arts comedies.
• Isaac Jackman’s "All the World’s a Stage": An 18th-century farce in two acts that uses the famous title to mock the theatrical pretensions of the time.

Musical & Pop Culture Riffs

• The Producers: Features a musical parody of the concept where accountants mournfully sing about their "roles" in life.
• Cartoon Collections: Single-panel gags on platforms like CartoonStock often place the "seven ages" in mundane, modern contexts, like a grocery store or an office.