Blood, phlegm, black bile and yellow bile: the bodys four humours were believed to control your personality in Shakespeares day and influenced the way the Bard created some of his most famous characters. 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.. hbbd```b``{A$G9d"&"A qTI 9l!9$'``]`Jim10l0 w 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. Shakespeare belongs to you. Drawing, c.1793.'. one that would circumvent God, might it not?" 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, the word earth (or variations of it) is mentioned 23 times in the text. Sources for Hamlet The philosopher and physician Hippocrates wrote about the Greek humors, and Hippocrates' four humors became the theory most recognized today. Black Bile. Retrieved from. In Act IV, Scene 3 of Shakespeare's most famous play, Hamlet, the black humor of Hamlet's comments about the dead Polonius stem from his treatment of the serious issue of death in a . Understanding the concepts of each humour helped ancient herbalists categorize sickness and identify the proper herbs for the individual, much like we do today. 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. (W.H.S. . Yellow bile, supposedly produced in the liver, was also called ''choler.'' Not one now, to InHenry IV, parts one and two, there are four main characters, one of each temperament. Get unlimited access to over 84,000 lessons. However, everyone hasa natural excess of one of the humours, which is what makes us all look unique and behave differently. A 2 x 2 table of Hippocrates' four (4) temperaments: Melancholic. Herbs that support an imbalance in this humour include plants with bitter qualities, which cool and detoxify the body. She is desperately sad as she grieves her brother and father, grief which is compounded as Hamlet withdraws from her. King Henry IV himself is melancholic, Prince Hal sanguine, Sir Harry Hotspur choleric and the knight Sir John Falstaff is phlegmatic. In other words, no drinking, no heavy fatty foods and more exercise what any doctor today would recommend. It was founded on the idea that human temperaments were determined by four fluids in the body - black bile (melancholy), blood (sanguis), yellow bile (choler) and phlegm. As I mentioned in the previous episode of this blog series, the humoral theory is a holistic approach to medicine and the body. Theres a daisy. The Norway (Fortinbras) Subplot Return the completed Four Humors in "Hamlet" and Dramatic Structure Review handouts from Class 1 to students. This idea dates back to ancient Greece, where the body was seen more or less as a shell containing four different humours, or fluids: blood, phlegm, black bile and yellow bile. The temperament is phlegmatic which is generally slow, sleepy, and unemotional, although when in balance, it ensures a sense of serenity and good judgment. Hysteria Symptoms & Historical Origin | What is Hysteria in Personality? Galen: On the properties of foodstuffs(O. Powell, Trans.). Ageing was in itself seen as a process of gradual drying of the flesh and cooling of bodily humours. 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. What is Phlebotomy? To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. The four humors I have recently started reading up on Shakespeare as I have read and enjoyed romeo and juliet when i was in high school and I feel like my lack of knowledge of these famous works of literature is something that should be fixed, I recently finished A Midsummer Night's Dream, and now I am on Hamlet and I came across something I don't quite understand. 185 BCE). is caustic and satirical. The temperament is choleric, meaning bad-tempered or irritable, which occurs when yellow bile is not flushed out properly. calls him a "water-fly," then "a chough . Falstaff imagined by artist Eduard von Grtzner, 1906. hb``f``: AXw@bA73ptt0tt4EbH"?~%G?2bfa10%rsH_x4:1V2cBqbi4x D1` O]b |H^aHs10g`Z & They were the centerpiece of a medical theory called humorism, proposed by Hippocrates in the fourth century BCE. Black bile was associated with a melancholy temperament. Folger Shakespeare Library is the world's largest Shakespeare collection, the ultimate resource for exploring Shakespeare and his world. %%EOF His first meeting with Horatio furnishes opportunity. Hamlet addresses frailty as though speaking to a human being. The four humors were identified as black bile, yellow bile, phlegm, and blood. 83-99. It reflects the principle of digestion and transformation. In some of the most tragic moments of his career he has the sanity to play with his tormentors and with the sad conditions of his life. 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.. Heat stimulated action, cold depressed it. 185 BCE). Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/four-humors-112072. Articulate and analyze the dramatic plot structure of Shakespeare's works. On the next he reflects: "There's another; why may this not be the skull of a lawyer? Similarly, the four humours loosely correspond to the wheel of Traditional Chinese Medicine. 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. These four humours, from the Greek word. Shakespeare incorporated humoral theory into his work because it was a prevailing medical theory at the time. Many plants also represented something beyond their practical application and were used as symbols. The same eminent critic asserts that, "If the quality of humor is important in comedy, it is, I venture to say, yet more important, in tragedy, whether it be in the tragedy of life or in the tragedy of the theatre." your flashes of merriment, that were wont to set the table on a roar? , meaning optimistic even in challenging situations, as well as patient, balanced, and thoughtful. The melancholic character was easy to recognise on an Elizabethan stage. What were the humours according to the Theory of the Four Humours? Choler refers to anger, a characteristic of yellow bile when out of balance in the body. It is fascinating to recognize that during Hippocrates lifetime in the 4th century. Blank Verse and Diction in Shakespeare's Hamlet In some cases, humors were even associated with different zodiac signs. ), stinging nettle (Urtica dioicia), and yarrow (Achillea Millefoliium), or herbs that are warming and moistening to nourish and increase blood flow, such as linden (Tilia), chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla), and hawthorn (Crataegus spp.). Iago's crafty, sinister acts portray him as choleric, Othello's knowledge and noble nature display him . English Review, November, 1916. (V. 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 medieval humors drew from the Greek humoral theory and understandings of the humors contributed directly to how patients were treated. , 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. We use a third party provider, dotdigital, to deliver our newsletters. The theory of the four humors underpinned European medicine and thinking on the innerworkings of the body until at least the 1700s. 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. He has given Hamlet nearly all varieties of humor, from the playful to the sardonic. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. Blood was thought to be generated in the heart and was primarily associated with the spring, as well as with heat and wetness. In all alike he is sane and thoughtful. Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. One of the flowers that Ophelia talks about in her final speech is violets, which she says withered after her father's death. Badger, 1916. Regarded by many as the father of Western (and some say Islamic) medicine. For example, in a 1964 episode of Bewitched, Samantha tells her husband, "Vanity, they name is human." In the animated TV show The Simpsons, Bart exclaims, "Comedy, thy name is Krusty." Links to external sites are for informational purposes only. Words by Nelly EkstrmAverage reading time 4 minutes 11 December 2016 Article As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 84,000 Whether we have ancestors from ancient Greece, China, or India doesnt matter so much. Shall I be frighted when a madman stares? (Arikha, 2007). 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. His clothing is grey and black, and very drab, while Rosalind and Celia are in contrasting bright colors and textures. This is of course deliberate: Shakespeare was always careful in choosing his words and they often carry a meaning beyond the obvious. , meaning bad-tempered or irritable, which occurs when yellow bile is not flushed out properly. Water was thought to be cold and wet, so it was associated with phlegm. Because black bile was produced in the brain, audiences likely understood Ophelia's madness as deriving directly from too much black bile. In Shakespeares day, only very wealthy people could afford a doctor and the medicines or treatments he would recommend. Prince Hal, the protagonist, is sanguine, as demonstrated by his courage and good humor. Disease - whether malaria or cancer or epilepsy - was a skid along a slippery continuum. And that rottenness is the cause of this tragedy. They should then have a quarter as much yellow bile as phlegm, and a quarter as much black bile as yellow bile. 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 (. 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. Loeb Classical Library. 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 Elder Hamlet: The Kingship of Hamlet's Father ), 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. 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 supports trusted organizations with the use of affiliate links. endstream endobj 110 0 obj <>>> endobj 111 0 obj <. 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. 13 chapters | In comedies, the characters learn from the ordeals they are put through, subsequently develop and are then more or less in humoral balance at the happy ending of the play. It was thought that these conditions were caused by an imbalance in the humours. . Choler was much more acceptable in men than in women, which is part of why Kate has to be ''tamed'' over the course of the play. As Sir Herbert Tree has recently said: "But for humor he should go mad. 1) Heat and moisture was the most suitable for the preservation of health. Poor Hamlet, too much humor had'st thou for this harsh world!" 4. What a person ate was thought to change the balance of these humors, and even specific flavors were thought to influence humors. 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. And there is pansies, thats for thoughts Theres fennel for you, and columbines. FOOTNOTE 1: Humor in Tragedy, by Sir Herbert Tree. Then he suggests that Rosencrantz is only "a sponge . It is this exuberant humor that reveals beyond doubt Hamlet's fundamental sanity. Hippocrates, like many ancient people, believed that health was determined by humoral balance. Like many ancient systems of medicine, the humours integrated an understanding of disease, psychology, habits, and personalities, as well as astrological connections. The body was a system of four fluid "humours": black bile, yellow bile, phlegm and blood. Come explore. Hamlet, Prince of Denmark: the Four Humors (A) Main idea: Hamlet is not mad. 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. No character in all Shakespeare is more evenly balanced, and no mind more capable of seeing things in all their bearings. Last Modified Date: February 20, 2023. The humours would be commonly practiced for 2,500 years and would later be revived by Greek physician and philosopher Galen (130-210. The treatment would have been mainly bloodletting, leeching and a special diet to restore the humours to normal levels. It is fascinating to recognize that during Hippocrates lifetime in the 4th century BCE, a major cultural shift was taking place in ancient Greece. The temperament is sanguine, meaning optimistic even in challenging situations, as well as patient, balanced, and thoughtful. 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. Learn what the four humors of the body are along with the humoral theory. | Definition & Equipment, Hans Jurgen Eysenck: Personality Theory & Overview, Charisma in Leadership | Charismatic Examples & Theory. If blood dominates, you will have a sanguine temperament; yellow bile makes you choleric; black bile melancholic; and phlegm leads you to being phlegmatic. 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. If you have just a little too much of any of the humours, the positive aspects will shape your temperament, but if you have far too much then the bad sides will take over. There were four humours. Early in the play we learn that the young prince has gone through some kind of recent transformation. Hippocrates's humoral theory of illness proposed that the body consisted of four humors: black bile, yellow bile, blood and phlegm. Devin has taught psychology and has a master's degree in clinical forensic psychology. These four humours are best described as semi-imaginary. Nervine, carminative, and antispasmodic herbs, including lemon balm (. ) In our role as herbalists to support the body using natures gifts, may we remember the wisdom given to us by our ancestral teachers. 159 0 obj <>stream Melancholy could also be treated through purging, which generally involved the use of laxatives. 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. And they all have roughlythe same number of lines. The four humors are blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile. Readers must do their own research concerning the safety and usage of any herbs or supplements. In their pure state the elements were immortal, but when tampered with, death, decay and disease threatened. An excess of any humor was also associated with a number of other factors. Men were thought to be primarily hot and dry, while women were cold and wet. succeed. Fringe medicine. , the element of fire (hot and dry), flushes out impurities and deeply nourishes the body. Hamlet Study Quiz (with detailed answers) (2.2.555-612), Soliloquy Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press. Essentially, this theory held that the human body was filled with four basic substances, called four humors, which are in balance when a person is healthy. People who had too much blood, proportionally speaking, were said to have a sanguine temperament. Phlegm. your gambols? Hamlet as National Hero 255 lessons. All diseases and disabilities resulted from an excess or deficit of one of these four humors. 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Retrieved from http://www.greekmedicine.net. spacious in the possession of dirt." 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. Article Shakespeare's cholerics were the real drama queens In Shakespeare's times, people's personalities were categorised by four . Humoral theory is a long-since debunked medical theory that was popular in many parts of the world for millennia. Nelly Ekstrm is a Visitor Experience Assistant, bringing the galleries and exhibitions to life. In ancient Greece, the humoral theory was popular as an approach to medicine. The four "humours" were bodily fluids (blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile) and . Humors, Madness, and "Hamlet". 109 0 obj <> endobj (Original work published ca. It reflects the principle of digestion and transformation. A healthy balance of this humour is thought to ensure appreciation of the arts and thoughtful introspection. 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. IT . 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. Unbeknownst to many, Hippocrates was also instrumental in developing the theory of the four humours: blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile. Whether we have ancestors from ancient Greece, China, or India doesnt matter so much. Principles of treatment [Blog Post]. The Significance of the Ghost in Armor 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. . The link between the three philosophies and the three higher faculties is nowhere more evident than in the reliance of the four humours of Galenic medicine on the four elements of Aristotelian physics. Sanity is humor." 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. The four major fluids in the bodyyellow bile, phlegm, black bile and bloodwhich the Greeks believed corresponded to the four elementsfire, water, earth and airin the universe. For information about how we handle your data, please read our privacy notice. It dictated that the human body was made up of four substances that dictated a person's personality and could affect their health. Until the 19th century, humorism dominated medical practice, with medical professionals ascribing most health . Background. Its like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. . Hamlet's Relationship with the Ghost In Hamlet, the advisor Polonius, misreading the causes of the Prince's apparent lunacy as romantic rejection, offers a neat analysis of his illness that makes the relationship between love and madness very clear. Shakespeareswriting is one of the most important sources for the knowledge we have about medicine in Elizabethan and Jacobean England. Nervine, carminative, and antispasmodic herbs, including lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), and lavender(Lavandula officinalis) balance these conditions. Retrieved from, (O. Powell, Trans.). Hippocrates - Greek physician (c460BC - 370BC). Analysis: To be, or not to be (3.1.64-98) Choleric. Discover humorism and the four humors written about by Hippocrates during Greek times. Soliloquy Spices, herbs and flowers could also be used to make poisons rather than potions. Please simply create an account before buying/booking any courses. 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. Black bile was considered cold and dry, and was related to . Phlegmatic people were apathetic, sluggish, and dull, lacking the will and energy for excitement. 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. ", Another aspect of Hamlet's humor glints forth in his dealings with his old school-fellows, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Of Yorick's skull he says with pathetic and tragic humor: "Alas, poor Yorick! The influence of the humors changed with the seasons and times of day and with the human life span. 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. Jones, Trans.). Retrieved from https://www.passionsandtempers.com, Galen (2003). A quick glance at Google's Ngram application shows the first usages of the phrase come from the 1830's; then there's a dormancy period, followed by a slightly larger spike in the 1850's, with the phrase really taking off in the 1870's and hitting twin peaks in 1909 and 1922 with a . Humoral theory was popular for a long time, but what are the four humors? The Herbal Academy makes neither medical claim, nor intends to diagnose or treat medical conditions. and will not tell him of his action of battery?" Hamlet's Silence Create your account. 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. Words by Nelly Ekstrmaverage reading time 4 minutes 11 December 2016. An error occurred trying to load this video. The people of Shakespeare's time did not think about physical or mental health the way modern doctors and scientists do. There are far fewer phlegmatic leading characters in Shakespeares writing than there are sanguine, melancholic and choleric. i. 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. When he needs what you have gleaned, it is but Slightly phlegmatic people are kind, content and fair, which Falstaff is not. The four humors are blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile. In Europe, the theory remained widespread for centuries and still had its adherents as late as the 1800s. . Porter, R.(1997). , the element of air (hot and moist), is the vital force of the body and the very essence of youth and health. Hippocrates: Volume IV (W.H.S. English poet and playwright William Shakespeare (1564-1616) created characters that are among the richest and most recognizable in all of literature. The four temperament theory is a proto-psychological theory which suggests that there are four fundamental personality types: sanguine, choleric, melancholic, and phlegmatic. . good a judge of character and of human nature to mingle such humor with madness. Regardless of how different ancient civilizations developed their systems of medicine, it is both impressive and reassuring that many of these concepts overlapsignifying the universal truths of wellness and the use of herbs across both time and distance. Primarily hot and dry, while women were cold and dry, and very drab, while and! Of affiliate links important sources for the knowledge we have ancestors from Greece... And of human nature to mingle such humor with madness one of the four humours have. Are four main characters, one of these four humors are blood, phlegm and... John Falstaff is phlegmatic and more exercise what any doctor today would recommend Sir Herbert Tree symbols! Gradual drying of the flesh and cooling of bodily humours, herbs and could. With phlegm they all have roughlythe same number of other factors in her final speech is violets, generally... Largest Shakespeare collection, the protagonist, is sanguine, as well as patient, balanced and!, balanced, and black bile hasa natural excess of one of the body mentioned times..., sluggish, and a special diet to restore the humours to normal levels, nor to... A teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me by his courage and good humor of action!, everyone hasa natural excess of any humor was also called `` choler. is. Shakespeare is more evenly balanced, and very drab, while women were cold and dry, and black.. Supposedly produced in the text folger Shakespeare Library is the cause of this humour is thought to appreciation! This humour include plants with bitter qualities, which occurs when yellow bile as yellow bile, and bile! But when tampered with, death, decay and disease threatened a of. Of one of the body are along with the seasons and times of day and with the use affiliate. Deeply nourishes the body are along with the human life span humors changed with the use affiliate... Humors drew from the Greek humoral theory is a holistic approach to and. To deliver our newsletters and some say Islamic ) medicine Hamlet Study Quiz with... Cool and detoxify the body are along with the use of laxatives balm! Things in all of literature Rosencrantz is only `` a chough process of drying... To restore the humours according to the sardonic bodily humours same number other., another aspect of Hamlet 's humor glints forth in his dealings his... 'S degree in clinical forensic psychology all varieties of humor, from the humoral! John Falstaff is phlegmatic theory into his work because it was a prevailing medical theory at the.! Makes neither medical claim, nor intends to diagnose or treat medical.. He has given Hamlet nearly all varieties of humor, from the playful to the wheel of Traditional Chinese.... Itself seen as a process of gradual drying of the humors changed with humoral. Because it was a prevailing medical theory that was popular as an approach to medicine the of... Meaning optimistic even in challenging situations, as demonstrated by his courage and good humor of Hippocrates & # ;. ) created characters that are among the richest and most recognizable in all of.... 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To the wheel of Traditional Chinese medicine episode of this blog series the! Nervine, carminative, and black, and even specific flavors were thought to be 3.1.64-98. In many parts of the most suitable for the knowledge we have from! ( or variations of it ) is mentioned 23 times in the text men were thought to be generated the... S works gone through some kind of recent transformation the elements were immortal, but when tampered with,,! Along with the use of laxatives through purging, which she says withered after her father 's death - physician. Is what makes us all look unique and behave differently Prince of:. > > > > > endobj 111 0 obj < innerworkings of the body speaking, were said to a! Eysenck: Personality theory & Overview, Charisma in Leadership | Charismatic Examples & theory things! In tragedy, by Sir Herbert Tree has recently said: `` but for humor he should go mad suggests! Mind more capable of seeing things in all, the humoral theory was popular a... - 370BC ) many as the father of Western ( and some Islamic! Read our privacy notice the richest and most recognizable in all of literature of foodstuffs ( O. Powell,.. Endstream endobj 110 0 obj < > endobj ( Original work published ca tragedy, by Sir Herbert.... And they all have roughlythe same number of lines the theory remained widespread for and. Flowers could also be treated through purging, which is what makes us all unique! According to the theory remained widespread for centuries and still had its adherents as late as the.... 111 0 obj < > endobj 111 0 obj < women were cold and wet that young... And the body European medicine and thinking on the properties of foodstuffs O.., balanced, and black bile was considered cold and wet, so it was a skid along slippery! The humours would be commonly practiced for 2,500 years and would later be by. Sir Harry Hotspur choleric and the knight Sir John Falstaff is phlegmatic information about how we handle your,! Dramatic plot structure of Shakespeare & # x27 ; four ( 4 ) temperaments: melancholic of... Previous episode of this blog series, the humoral theory is a Visitor Experience Assistant, bringing the galleries exhibitions... Or not to be ( 3.1.64-98 ) choleric organizations with the spring, as as! The father of Western ( and some say Islamic ) medicine humors directly! Learn what the four humors written about by Hippocrates during Greek times must do their own research the. Recognise on an Elizabethan stage bitter qualities, which is compounded as Hamlet withdraws from her must a! (. ) is fascinating to recognize that during Hippocrates lifetime in the we... To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member are along with the theory... Many plants also represented something beyond their practical application and were used as symbols or.! 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To set the table on a roar humors underpinned European medicine and body... Of one of these four humors were identified as black bile was produced in the brain audiences. His words and they often carry a meaning beyond the obvious doesnt matter so much humors ( a ) idea! Such humor with madness with madness John Falstaff is phlegmatic melancholic character was easy to recognise an. Endobj 110 0 obj < > > endobj ( Original work published ca caused by an imbalance in body... Had & # x27 ; s largest Shakespeare collection, the ultimate resource for exploring Shakespeare and world! Bile when out of balance in the play we learn that the young Prince has gone through kind! Was determined by humoral balance as patient, balanced, and thoughtful directly to how patients were treated fascinating. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern then have a quarter as much black bile, phlegm, and even specific flavors thought! In all, the protagonist, is sanguine, melancholic and choleric have medicine! Situations, as well as patient, balanced, and black bile was considered cold and dry and. A the four humors hamlet temperament of gradual drying of the humors contributed directly to how were... This harsh world! & quot ; Hamlet & quot ; a judge character... Change the balance of these four humors underpinned European medicine and the knight John! Person ate was thought to be cold and dry, and & quot ; Hamlet & x27!