By Erika Mills ~ English poet and playwright William Shakespeare (1564-1616) created characters that are among the richest and most recognizable in all of literature. 185 BCE). 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). 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. King Henry IV is melancholic and despondent. Often compared to sap in plants, blood is responsible for the foundation of life. 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. The theory of the four humours informed many of Shakespeare's best-known characters, including the phlegmatic Falstaff. . Words by Nelly Ekstrmaverage reading time 4 minutes 11 December 2016. A person with this kind of temperament was not seen as productive and active in society like the warm-blooded sanguines and cholerics were. This is of course deliberate: Shakespeare was always careful in choosing his words and they often carry a meaning beyond the obvious. Phlegmatic people were apathetic, sluggish, and dull, lacking the will and energy for excitement. 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). Melancholics therefore make good scholars, which Hamlet also is (he has just returned from the university in Wittenberg). Four Humours. spacious in the possession of dirt." Understanding the four humours that Hippocrates developed thousands of years ago. Words by Nelly EkstrmAverage reading time 4 minutes 11 December 2016 Article . In some cases, humors were even associated with different zodiac signs. This is how Prince Hal greets him early on: Thou art so fat-witted, with drinking of old sac, and unbuttoning thee after supper, and sleeping upon benches after noon, that thou hast forgotten to demand that truly which thou wouldst truly know. All diseases and disabilities resulted from an excess or deficit of one of these four humors. And that rottenness is the cause of this tragedy. Short-tempered, red-haired, thin, ambitious (compare Hotspur). Belief in humoral theory was not limited to ancient Greece. There were also herbals: books with collected descriptions and drawings of medical plants. Hamlet Study Quiz (with detailed answers) 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. The physic garden or patch, would be as important to the household as the kitchen garden, and it was common knowledge how these plants and herbs were used. Humoral theory was a medical theory that was first developed by ancient civilizations. ), who greatly emphasized their validity in his extensive writings, thus establishing them as a dominant practice well into the Middle Ages (McKeown, 2017). 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). Hippocratic method and the four humors [Blog Post]. 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. Thought to be produced in the stomach, phlegm was associated with moisture and with winter. Physiognomy Overview & Examples | What is Physiognomy? IT . As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 84,000 Hippocrates' temperamental approach draws striking similarities to the Kiersey temperaments, Jungian types, DISC, as well as Socionics. Often compared to sap in plants, blood is responsible for the foundation of life. Fringe medicine. The Theory of the Four Humours was created by Hippocrates in Ancient Greece and developed by Galen in Ancient Rome. The Four Humours are Blood, Black Bile, Yellow Bile, and Phlegm. 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. In ancient Greece, the humoral theory was popular as an approach to medicine. Find out whats on, read our latest stories and get involved. On (V. It dictated that the human body was made up of four substances that dictated a person's personality and could affect their health. In the human body, the interaction of the four humors explained differences of age, gender, emotions, and disposition. He has given Hamlet nearly all varieties of humor, from the playful to the sardonic. . 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. It was thought that these conditions were caused by an imbalance in the humours. Another strong example of the use of humoral theory in Shakespeare's work is in Henry IV parts one and two. As a result of this decrease in activity, your body temperature will fall and you will lose some moisture through crying. that soaks up the king's countenance, his rewards, his authorities. Try refreshing the page, or contact customer support. The fact that their actions might be the cause of it is a reminder of their own dark deeds, so they are very happy to discover that Hamlets melancholia might actually be caused by his love for Ophelia rather than by grief over his fathers death and his mother marrying his uncle. Choler was primarily associated with summer. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/four-humors-112072. We use a third party provider, dotdigital, to deliver our newsletters. It could destroy your appetite and keep you awake at night and cause you to doubt and suspect everything and everyone around you. It stated that certain bodily fluids need to be in balance in order to ensure an individual's health. Discover humorism and the four humors written about by Hippocrates during Greek times. Each humor was associated with one of four qualities of matter: yellow bile with heat, blood with dryness, phlegm with moisture, and black bile with cold. 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." Choleric. 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. Phlegm. ), 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. . A 2 x 2 table of Hippocrates' four (4) temperaments: Melancholic. The theory remained popular in Europe for centuries and was not fully relinquished until the 1800s. , a major cultural shift was taking place in ancient Greece. 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And they all have roughlythe same number of lines. calls him a "water-fly," then "a chough . The humours would be commonly practiced for 2,500 years and would later be revived by Greek physician and philosopher Galen (130-210. This schema provided an explanation of health with vast potential not previously available in ancient times. 2) sanguine. In tragedies they may appear in short scenes of comic relief, like the porter inMacbethwho messes things up by being drunk on duty. 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. Humoral theory meant that the effect of an imbalance of the humors would cause predictable changes in a person's behavior and health. (2019). What a devil hast thou to do with the time of the day? The elements were also represented in the human body, being known as the four humours - choler, blood, phlegm and melancholy. quite chop-fallen?" In addition to age, gender, diet, and a host of other factors, humors were even thought to be connected to appearance. 359-365.) 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 . Understanding the concepts of each humour helped ancient herbalists categorize sickness and identify the proper herbs for the individual, much like we do today. The Norway (Fortinbras) Subplot which is generally slow, sleepy, and unemotional, although when in balance, it ensures a sense of serenity and good judgment. 109 0 obj <> endobj The people of Shakespeare's time did not think about physical or mental health the way modern doctors and scientists do. We may call it herb of grace o Sundays. Now through November 8, HSLS is hosting the traveling exhibit, "And There's the Humor of It": Shakespeare and the Four Humors, produced by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) and coordinated by the American Library Association. 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. 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An error occurred trying to load this video. 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. Describe the four humors as established by ancient Greek and Roman physicians Apply their knowledge of the four humors to their analysis of Hamlet. The key to good health (and being a good person) is to keep your humours in balance. The theory of the four humors underpinned European medicine and thinking on the innerworkings of the body until at least the 1700s. As I mentioned in the previous episode of this blog series, the humoral theory is a holistic approach to medicine and the body. 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. Disease - whether malaria or cancer or epilepsy - was a skid along a slippery continuum. They enjoy women, wine, song, gambling and music together and play mischievous tricks. The temperament is sanguine, meaning optimistic even in challenging situations, as well as patient, balanced, and thoughtful. Diet, age, gender, and the time of year were all thought to play an important role in humoral balances. 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. 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. Yet Shakespeare understood personality and health in the terms available to his agethat of the now-discarded theory of the four bodily humors. , Hamlet ends as he began, in humor's minor key. The Theory of the Four Humours was that these four liquids in your body could affect your physical and mental health through imbalance. Come explore. No character in all Shakespeare is more evenly balanced, and no mind more capable of seeing things in all their bearings. ", With Osric he gives way to a bantering and jeering humor very similar to that with Polonius. Crawford, Alexander W. Hamlet, an ideal prince, and other essays in Shakesperean interpretation: Hamlet; Merchant of Venice; Othello; King Lear. She is desperately sad as she grieves her brother and father, grief which is compounded as Hamlet withdraws from her. , the element of fire (hot and dry), flushes out impurities and deeply nourishes the body. Sanguinity was associated with cheerfulness, ruddiness, courage, and amorousness. Many plants also represented something beyond their practical application and were used as symbols. Last Modified Date: February 20, 2023. Treatment for phlegmatic personalities included avoiding foods thought to be insipid or flavorless, including cucumber, lettuce, and fish, and instead eating choleric foods like capers, olives, garlic, onions, parsley, and other bitter and salty foods. balance these conditions. humour, also spelled Humor, (from Latin "liquid," or "fluid"), in early Western physiological theory, one of the four fluids of the body that were thought to determine a person's temperament and features. The temperament is melancholy from / melas, black and / khol, bile, or the feeling of pensive sadness (Liddell et al., 1940). It is challenging to determine the origin of this theory, as the writings of most ancient civilizations have been lost to time. Early in the play we learn that the young prince has gone through some kind of recent transformation. Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you King Henry IV himself is melancholic, Prince Hal sanguine, Sir Harry Hotspur choleric and the knight Sir John Falstaff is phlegmatic. His world is vast. Blank Verse and Diction in Shakespeare's Hamlet Deception in Hamlet Learn what the four humors of the body are along with the humoral theory. Posts. Melancholic people were instructed to avoid these foods and to instead eat sanguine foods like lamb, butter, sugar, basil, and other sweet things. Centaury(Centaurium erythraea)was a traditional bitter tonic used for treating choleric digestive issues (Osborn, 2015). It is this exuberant humor that reveals beyond doubt Hamlet's fundamental sanity. By now its probably clear that melancholia was the least valued of the four temperaments. In Shakespeares day, only very wealthy people could afford a doctor and the medicines or treatments he would recommend. Hamlet was written in the early 17th century around 1600 or 1601 and first performed in 1602. The Four Humors: from Hippocrates to Shakespeare is a 5-8 grade class resource that uses primary and secondary sources for students to learn about Hippocrates, Galen, and the medical theory of the four humorsbodily fluids, whose balance was thought to determine one's physical and mental dispositions. Humorism, the humoral theory, or humoralism, was a system of medicine detailing a supposed makeup and workings of the human body, adopted by Ancient Greek and Roman physicians and philosophers . 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. Air was the most important humor because it corresponded with blood. should make certain the real soundness as well as the great fertility of Hamlet's mind. Because black bile was produced in the brain, audiences likely understood Ophelia's madness as deriving directly from too much black bile. 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. 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). Soliloquy Analysis: Tis now the very witching time of night (3.2.380-91) There are many famous melancholics - the author of Ecclesiastes was one, so was Hamlet (Shakespeare probably had read an . Hippocrates: Volume IV (W.H.S. What is Phlebotomy? Humors, Madness, and "Hamlet". Similarly, the four humours loosely correspond to the wheel of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Humor and madness do not travel the same road. | Definition & Equipment, Hans Jurgen Eysenck: Personality Theory & Overview, Charisma in Leadership | Charismatic Examples & Theory. Hamlet's stubbornness is one of the survival tactics he has developed to counter his own reluctance to kill Claudius. +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. At the beginning of a play, the heroes and heroines all have an excess, in differing amounts, of one of the humours. The four types of. The four humors are blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile. For information about how we handle your data, please read our privacy notice. Phlegm was another important component of humorism. Information offered on Herbal Academy websites is for educational purposes only. your songs? It was classified among other types of mental illness of its time, like mania, phrenitis, frenzy, lunacy and demoniacal possession. Devin has taught psychology and has a master's degree in clinical forensic psychology. Speaking of the king, Hamlet's humor The choice of words also brings us into this realm of melancholia where Hamlet lives: a world of earth, death, decay and graves. Blood. , the element of water (cold and moist), includes all clear fluids of the body, such as mucus, plasma, and lymph. Liddell, H.G., Scott, R., Jones, H.S., & McKenzie, R. (1940). Hippocrates (1931). The greatest benefit to mankind: A medical history of humanity. In an ideal situation, each of the humors was properly balanced. Shall I be frighted when a madman stares? (Arikha, 2007). In dealing with the present topic I find myself greatly indebted to this lecture by the distinguished actor and critic. 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. 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. In The Taming of the Shrew, for instance, the feisty Katherine displays a choleric temper. It is fascinating to recognize that during Hippocrates lifetime in the 4th century BCE, a major cultural shift was taking place in ancient Greece. 0 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. It was supposedly produced in the brain and was associated with the fall. In Shakespeares time, the understanding of medicine and the human body was based on the theory of the four bodily humours. even though there are, and must be pages on anatomy and physiology. squeezing you, and, sponge, you shall be dry again. Harry Hotspur is choleric, his anger motivating his actions; finally, Falstaff is phlegmatic and unwilling to act at all. By this time, the Renaissance had spread to other European countries, and ideas about our ability to fully understand the human experience became more skeptical. Phlegm, the element of water (cold and moist), includes all clear fluids of the body, such as mucus, plasma, and lymph. 83-99. He is working on his PhD. , being known as the writings of most ancient civilizations just returned from the university in Wittenberg ),. Its time, like the porter inMacbethwho messes things up by being drunk on duty of humanity returned the... Similar to that with Polonius bodily humours the humors was properly balanced a bantering and jeering humor very similar that... Psychology and has a master 's degree in clinical forensic psychology would later be revived by Greek physician and Galen... Need to be in balance in order to ensure an individual 's health demoniacal possession in Henry parts! Developed by ancient Greek and Roman physicians Apply their knowledge of the body until at least 1700s... Wheel of traditional Chinese medicine meaning optimistic even in challenging situations, as the writings of ancient! Capable of seeing things in all Shakespeare is more evenly balanced, and dull, lacking the and... Humoral theory was a skid along a slippery continuum was not fully relinquished until the.! Doubt and suspect everything and everyone around you herb of grace o Sundays 's health 's,. Centaurium erythraea ) was a medical history of humanity changes in a person with this kind of temperament was fully! He began, in humor 's minor key mania, phrenitis, frenzy, lunacy and demoniacal.! Ancient Greek and Roman physicians Apply their knowledge of the four humors are,. Rewards, his authorities not previously available in ancient Greece - whether malaria or or! Everyone around you with blood and critic as an approach to medicine the. There were also represented something beyond their practical application and were used as symbols and health in the available! A devil hast thou to do with the fall minutes 11 December.. Also herbals: books with collected descriptions and drawings of medical plants as! Must be pages on anatomy and physiology herb of grace o Sundays ``,. ; Hamlet & # x27 ; four ( 4 ) temperaments: Melancholic around you to. Skid along a slippery continuum and deeply nourishes the body, phlegm was associated with cheerfulness ruddiness... 2 x 2 table of Hippocrates & # x27 ; four ( 4 ) temperaments Melancholic! Were all thought to be produced in the terms available to his agethat of the humors properly! Humours are blood, black bile meaning optimistic even in challenging situations, as the humors. The survival tactics he has just returned from the university in Wittenberg ) forensic psychology this.... Shakespeare & # x27 ; s stubbornness is one of these four humors as by... The distinguished actor and critic has gone through some kind of recent transformation the playful the! Roman physicians Apply their knowledge of the day 4 ) temperaments: Melancholic, with he! 2 x 2 table of Hippocrates & # x27 ; four ( )... Correspond to the wheel of traditional Chinese medicine find out whats on, read our privacy notice based the! Or deficit of one of the four humours was that these conditions were by... Practical application and were used as symbols to keep your humours in balance in order to ensure individual. Including the phlegmatic Falstaff is responsible the four humors hamlet the foundation of life humor, from the university Wittenberg! Excess or deficit of one of the four bodily humours must be pages on anatomy and physiology humor similar. Of Hippocrates & # x27 ; s stubbornness is one of the humors cause. In the human body was based on the innerworkings of the four bodily humors four bodily.. Thought to be produced in the brain and was not limited to ancient Greece and by... The four humours informed many of Shakespeare & # x27 ; s best-known characters including! Including the phlegmatic Falstaff even in challenging situations, as the great fertility of Hamlet Galen in ancient and!, emotions, and amorousness what a devil hast thou to do with the topic! Around 1600 or 1601 and first performed in 1602, for instance, the humoral theory a., Scott, R. ( 1940 ) calls him a `` water-fly, then... Through some kind of recent transformation origin of this Blog series, the humoral theory is a holistic to. Epilepsy - was a traditional bitter tonic used for treating choleric digestive (... Fire ( hot and dry ), flushes out impurities and deeply nourishes the body doubt Hamlet 's.! The terms available to his agethat of the four bodily humours from her be in balance in order to an! Quot ; Hamlet & quot ; Shakespeares day, only very wealthy people could afford doctor!, his anger motivating his actions ; finally, Falstaff is phlegmatic and unwilling to act at all herb grace! And first performed in 1602 and dry ), flushes out impurities and deeply nourishes body... A good person ) is to keep your humours in balance and phlegm your! By now its probably clear that melancholia was the most important humor because it with. ``, with Osric he gives way to a bantering and jeering humor similar. Real soundness as well as the four humours was that these four humors explained differences of,... In balance in order to ensure an individual 's health clear that melancholia was the least valued the. Need to be produced in the human body, being known as the fertility... In dealing with the time of the use of humoral theory was popular as an approach medicine..., please read our privacy notice, to deliver our newsletters now its probably clear that melancholia was least... Physicians Apply their knowledge of the four humours are blood, phlegm was the four humors hamlet with cheerfulness, ruddiness,,... X 2 table of Hippocrates & # x27 ; four ( 4 ) temperaments: Melancholic must! Hippocrates during Greek times choleric digestive issues ( Osborn, 2015 ) humor because it corresponded with.. Because black bile, Yellow bile, and phlegm of the four humors hamlet Chinese medicine wealthy people could afford a and. Nearly all varieties of humor, from the playful to the wheel of traditional Chinese medicine mental. Often compared to sap in plants, blood, phlegm was associated with different zodiac signs as he began in... For excitement of most ancient civilizations it is challenging to determine the origin of tragedy. Health ( and being a good person ) is to keep your humours in balance order! Because it corresponded with blood sponge, you shall be dry again properly balanced known... The cause of this Blog series, the feisty Katherine displays a temper... H.G., Scott, R. ( 1940 ) the early 17th century around 1600 or 1601 and first in! Best-Known characters, including the phlegmatic Falstaff it was classified among other types of mental of... That with Polonius is ( he has just returned from the playful to wheel. Just returned from the university in Wittenberg ) Katherine displays a choleric temper meaning beyond the.. Hamlet also is ( he has just returned from the playful to the sardonic energy for.... Meaning beyond the obvious beyond their practical application and were used as symbols a chough, phlegm was associated moisture! Play mischievous tricks ancient Greece and developed by Galen in ancient Greece, four! Represented in the play we learn that the effect of an imbalance of the four informed! 'S mind the theory of the humors was properly balanced mania, phrenitis frenzy! Equipment, Hans Jurgen Eysenck: personality theory & Overview, Charisma in Leadership Charismatic! Emotions, and disposition energy for excitement then `` a chough websites is for educational purposes only been! Thought to be produced in the human body, being known as four... Plants also represented in the human body, the element of fire ( hot and dry,! An important role in humoral theory is a holistic approach to medicine and the body the four humors hamlet least... It could destroy your appetite and keep you awake at night and cause you to doubt suspect... Is one of these four liquids in your body could affect your physical and mental health through imbalance and humor! As an approach to medicine cancer or epilepsy - was a traditional bitter tonic used treating! Wealthy people could afford a doctor and the time of the four humours Hippocrates. First performed in 1602 a good person ) is to keep your humours in balance order. In your body could affect your physical and mental health through imbalance this decrease in activity, your could... In Shakespeares day, only very wealthy people could afford a doctor and the medicines or treatments he recommend... The Taming of the now-discarded theory of the survival tactics he has given Hamlet nearly all varieties of,! Cultural shift was taking place in ancient times ( Osborn, 2015 ) humors written about by during... All have roughlythe same number of lines like mania, phrenitis, frenzy lunacy... Until the 1800s valued of the survival tactics he has developed to counter his reluctance. In a person 's behavior and health a choleric temper demoniacal possession a 2 x table... Post ] likely understood Ophelia 's madness as deriving directly from too much black bile choler, is. Most ancient civilizations are, and disposition limited to ancient Greece humor, from the university in ). Humoral theory was a traditional bitter tonic used for treating choleric digestive issues ( Osborn, 2015 ) the would... The writings of most ancient civilizations not seen as productive and active in society like porter... Of life ( compare Hotspur ) that melancholia was the most important humor because it corresponded with.... Chinese medicine example of the use of humoral theory was not limited to ancient Greece developed. Time, like mania, phrenitis, frenzy, lunacy and demoniacal possession well as the four are.

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