People who had too much blood, proportionally speaking, were said to have a sanguine temperament. Similarly, the four humours loosely correspond to the wheel of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The Theory of the Four Humours was created by Hippocrates in Ancient Greece and developed by Galen in Ancient Rome. Thought to be produced in the stomach, phlegm was associated with moisture and with winter. Its a choice that has to be made in every production of it: how mad is he really? (2019). For information about how we handle your data, please read our privacy notice. Develop an analytical argument in which they assess the significance of Hamlet's melancholy. 83-99. Speaking of the king, Hamlet's humor 136 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<45BA525245714C0FB00ABAFBFE87BD54><2FD0B201639DA9429A165B25360D9915>]/Index[109 51]/Info 108 0 R/Length 124/Prev 176169/Root 110 0 R/Size 160/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream All rights reserved. Shall I be frighted when a madman stares? (Arikha, 2007). 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. Another strong example of the use of humoral theory in Shakespeare's work is in Henry IV parts one and two. Create your account. This explains the Hippocratic . balance of his humors: blood and phlegm noted as "judgment." He goes on to talk about how a . * It is the work of Polybus, Hippocrates' student and son-in-law. Hippocratic method and the four humors [Blog Post]. After being refused by Ophelia, Polonius explains that Hamlet: Fell into a sadness, then into a fast, ), 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. Oxford, England: Clarendon Press. As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 84,000 Madness does not lie this way. Nor were they good company, like the self-indulgent and lazy phlegmatics. ii. William Shakespeare notably used humoral theory in his plays as a way to describe his characters in terms that would have been familiar to his audience. Hamlet is arguably the most famous literary melancholic, demonstrating an excess of black bile - one of the four humours thought to govern bodies in Shakespeare's time. All the temperaments have their good and bad sides. , meaning optimistic even in challenging situations, as well as patient, balanced, and thoughtful. For instance, blood was associated with heat and wetness. This may be a reference to aromatherapy, which used violets to treat melancholy at the time. What is Phlebotomy? As Sir Herbert Tree has recently said: "But for humor he should go mad. Hippocrates believed the human body is home to four types of liquids which, if imbalanced in any way, could cause mental and physical health problems in the individual. Most people would have relied on traditional remedies made out of what they could pick in the forest or grow themselves. Biological and Medical History of Abnormality in Psychology, Introduction to Ben Jonson: Poems, Plays and Shakespeare, Singlehood & Cohabitation: Definition, Challenges & Advantages, OCD Symptoms, Causes, & Characteristics | Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Symptoms, Education and Competencies of a Professional Counselor, What is Melancholy? Come explore. These characteristics include energetics, elements, and temperament, as well as understanding the complexity of the natural world. Falstaffs temperament would have prevented him from following any of these recommendations. 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. 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). Good health and good disposition of character or personality were believed to be a matter . Choleric people were quick to anger and highly irritable. Herbs that support an imbalance in this humour include plants with bitter qualities, which cool and detoxify the body. Treatments for humoral imbalances were often unpleasant or dangerous, including bloodletting, vomiting, starvation, and purging. succeed. He is working on his PhD. In dealing with the present topic I find myself greatly indebted to this lecture by the distinguished actor and critic. 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. 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). 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. In addition to age, gender, diet, and a host of other factors, humors were even thought to be connected to appearance. 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. Physiognomy Overview & Examples | What is Physiognomy? The Herbal Academy neither endorses them nor is in any way responsible for their content. To Polonius and the other spies he is playful and contemptuous. The humours would be commonly practiced for 2,500 years and would later be revived by Greek physician and philosopher Galen (130-210. In Shakespeares time, the understanding of medicine and the human body was based on the theory of the four bodily humours. At the beginning of a play, the heroes and heroines all have an excess, in differing amounts, of one of the humours. Principles of treatment [Blog Post]. He has got far too much phlegm in him, and there are many references to his unattractiveness. 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 (. Soliloquy Analysis: Tis now the very witching time of night (3.2.380-91) lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. Centaury. Hippocrates - Greek physician (c460BC - 370BC). ), 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.). What a person ate was thought to change the balance of these humors, and even specific flavors were thought to influence humors. Understanding the four humours that Hippocrates developed thousands of years ago provides an opportunity to more deeply understand the evolution of medicine throughout the history of humankind. The Theory of the Four Humours was that these four liquids in your body could affect your physical and mental health through imbalance. Blood. 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 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. 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. Last Modified Date: February 20, 2023. He first Water was thought to be cold and wet, so it was associated with phlegm. 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. Unless hours were cups of sack, and minutes capons, and clocks the tongues of bawds, and dials the signs of leaping houses, and the blessed sun himself a fair hot wench in flame-coloured taffeta, I see no reason why thou shouldst be so superfluous to demand the time of day.. Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you which is generally slow, sleepy, and unemotional, although when in balance, it ensures a sense of serenity and good judgment. We use a third party provider, dotdigital, to deliver our newsletters. 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). Black Bile. They are associated with sanguine, phlegmatic, choleric, and melancholic temperaments respectively. The humours would be commonly practiced for 2,500 years and would later be revived by Greek physician and philosopher Galen (130-210 AD), who greatly emphasized their validity in his extensive writings, thus establishing them as a dominant practice well into the Middle Ages (McKeown, 2017). Badger, 1916. 255 lessons. It is very likely that Shakespeare created these humoral parallels deliberately, as he would have been very familiar with the kinds of personalities and treatments delineated by humoral theory. Jack Falstaff is fat, lazy, cowardly, dishonest and sentimental, but the audience loved him despite all his faults. The four humors were identified as black bile, yellow bile, phlegm, and blood. Drawing, c.1793. Falstaffs phlegmatic temperament makes him gorge on sack (wine) and capons (castrated cockerel, fattened for eating) all night and sleep all day, which builds up more and more phlegm and makes him even more thick and self-indulgent. Then he suggests that Rosencrantz is only "a sponge . Hamlet's Melancholy: The Transformation of the Prince The temperament is phlegmatic which is generally slow, sleepy, and unemotional, although when in balance, it ensures a sense of serenity and good judgment. One play really stands out when it comes to the subject of humours. 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 Norway (Fortinbras) Subplot Herbalism is an ancient practice with thousands of years of historical applications. | Definition & Equipment, Hans Jurgen Eysenck: Personality Theory & Overview, Charisma in Leadership | Charismatic Examples & Theory. Curator Gail Kern Paster explains "The four humors were an early typology for human personality. Besides that, the typical melancholic would have very little else to offer the world. THE FOUR HUMOURS OF MAN: CHOLERIC Humour-Choleric Body Substance-Yellow Bile Produced By-Gall Bladder Season-Summer Element-Fire Qualities-Hot & Dry Complexion & Body Type-Red Haired, Thin Ambitious Leader-like Aggressive A lot of Energy & Passion Able to dominate others Dont choose paths between, only extremes Prone to mood swings SANGUINE Soliloquy Analysis: Now might I do it pat (3.3.77-100) Phlegm was cold and wet, and related to winter and water. A natural excess of black bile could make you cautious and analytical. They were the centerpiece of a medical theory called humorism, proposed by Hippocrates in the fourth century BCE. The four humours are represented in Othello through the main characters of the tragedy. What he should be doing is trying to restore the balance by switching to a warming and drying diet and engaging in warming and drying activities. Then to the skull he says: "Where be your gibes now? and will not tell him of his action of battery?" (Original work published ca. Those who were thought to be excessively sanguine were sometimes treated with bloodletting, which was a common medical practice that unfortunately did much more harm than good. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press. It crops out at every turn, and indicates the essential soundness of his mind. The Elder Hamlet: The Kingship of Hamlet's Father The characters around Hamlet are worried by his melancholia. Blood represents cheer and courage, phlegm represents apathy, yellow bile represents anger, and black bile represents melancholy. 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. Words by Nelly EkstrmAverage reading time 4 minutes 11 December 2016 Article Words by Nelly Ekstrmaverage reading time 6 minutes 16 December 2016 The Elizabethan melancholic At the beginning of the play, Falstaff and Prince Hal are great friends. The black bile would weigh on you, and make you passive, sad, dull and indecisive. Poor Hamlet, too much humor had'st thou for this harsh world!" 4. The theory remained popular in Europe for centuries and was not fully relinquished until the 1800s. 2) Heat and dryness give rise to acute diseases, 3) Cold and moisture produce phlegmatic affections, 4) Cold and dryness give rise to melancholy. Melancholics are often depicted dressed in black, the colour (unsurprisingly) connected to black bile. In other words, no drinking, no heavy fatty foods and more exercise what any doctor today would recommend. Galen taught Elizabethan doctors about fire, water, earth, and air. William Shakespeare: profile. There are far fewer phlegmatic leading characters in Shakespeares writing than there are sanguine, melancholic and choleric. She has been teaching English in Canada and Taiwan for seven years. Retrieved from http://www.greekmedicine.net. - Definition & Examples, Public Broadcast Service (PBS): Definition, Origin & Funding, Satellite Television: Definition & History, Microcasting: Definition, Example & Impact, Communications Act of 1934: Purpose & Impact, Working Scholars Bringing Tuition-Free College to the Community. 4. 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. 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. , a major cultural shift was taking place in ancient Greece. A healthy balance of this humour is thought to ensure appreciation of the arts and thoughtful introspection. His works contains a lot of information on the contemporary medical practices of the time, but they also show the social history of medicine: how medicine formed a part of peoples lives and thoughts. Boston R.G. As Hippocrates said, Grief and fear, when lingering, provoke melancholia (Hippocrates, 185/1931). 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The four humours were literally bodily fluids, but were associated with personality traits, which is why we still talk about someone being "good-humoured." Perfect physical and mental health would occur if the various humours were balanced, meaning that they were in the proper proportion in the body. the first skull he says: "It might be the pate of a politician . People with too much phlegm were considered to be phlegmatic, a term dating back to Galen. In the graveyard over the skulls he is sardonic and pathetic, and over Yorick's he is melancholy. If the humours were in imbalance, then the person was sick. one that would circumvent God, might it not?" So Hamlet wasnt always so miserable; something happened to change his temperament. Readers must do their own research concerning the safety and usage of any herbs or supplements. This unfailing humor that toys with life's comedies and tragedies alike does not come from madness, but from sanity and self-possession. 185 BCE). Vomiting was also thought to help purge phlegm to restore balance to patients. This will turn your body cold and dry and, of course, build up your levels of black bile. Hamlet's stubbornness is one of the survival tactics he has developed to counter his own reluctance to kill Claudius. 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 word is quite rare in Shakespeares writing otherwise: in The Taming of the Shrew, a play without melancholics, the word is only used once. your flashes of merriment, that were wont to set the table on a roar? Badger, 1916. King Henry IV is melancholic and despondent. Representation of the melancholic temperament; an old man reading a book and holding a bag of earth, with a mourning dove sitting on his head. The four temperament theory is a proto-psychological theory which suggests that there are four fundamental personality types: sanguine, choleric, melancholic, and phlegmatic. 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.. your gambols? King Henry IV himself is melancholic, Prince Hal sanguine, Sir Harry Hotspur choleric and the knight Sir John Falstaff is phlegmatic. The first words Hamlet sighs forth are in the nature (Original work published 165-175 CE), Gill, N.S. should make certain the real soundness as well as the great fertility of Hamlet's mind. One indication that the humours were well-known in the Middle Ages can be seen in a quote from Shakespeare`sJulius Caesar(IV, 3) when Brutus exclaims to Cassius: Must I give way and room to your rash choler? In ancient Greece, Hippocrates wrote about the humors in conjunction with various diseases. InHenry IV, parts one and two, there are four main characters, one of each temperament. 109 0 obj <> endobj A person with this kind of temperament was not seen as productive and active in society like the warm-blooded sanguines and cholerics were. Having too much of this dark, dull substance in your body would make you as dark and dull in body and mind as the humour itself. To what extent is he just acting? Oh, you must wear your rue with a difference. 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. Melancholics therefore make good scholars, which Hamlet also is (he has just returned from the university in Wittenberg). . Black bile was considered cold and dry, and was related to . Hysteria Symptoms & Historical Origin | What is Hysteria in Personality? In their pure state the elements were immortal, but when tampered with, death, decay and disease threatened. The four humors: (Hamlet is Shakespeare's most famous melancholic, but Jacques also suffers from too much black bile) In this painting, Orlando closely resembles the melancholic men laying on the forest ground that we discussed. Until the 19th century, humorism dominated medical practice, with medical professionals ascribing most health . What were the humours according to the Theory of the Four Humours? I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. Optimistic, red-cheeked, corpulent, irresponsible (compare Falstaff). In an ideal situation, each of the humors was properly balanced. The temperament is sanguine, meaning optimistic even in challenging situations, as well as patient, balanced, and thoughtful. Students explore the influence of the humoral theory in Shakespeare's plays. . Regarded by many as the father of Western (and some say Islamic) medicine. It can be expressed as the dried blood found in stool, very dark urine, serious fevers caused by malaria, or, more abstractly, as constipation, bloating, and arthritis. Posts. Humoral theory was popular for a long time, but what are the four humors? It can be expressed as the dried blood found in stool, very dark urine, serious fevers caused by malaria, or, more abstractly, as constipation, bloating, and arthritis. One of the most outstanding characteristics of Hamlet is his subtle and persistent humor. Hamlet: Problem Play and Revenge Tragedy Humors, Madness, and "Hamlet". Like many ancient systems of medicine, the humours, f disease, psychology, habits, and personalities, as well as astrological connections. Prince Hal, the protagonist, is sanguine, as demonstrated by his courage and good humor. Herbs that support an imbalance in this humour include plants with bitter qualities, which cool and detoxify the body. 0 He changes his character by changing his way of life and transforms into a worthy successor. A cabinet of ancient medical curiosities: Strange tales and surprising facts from the healing arts. Osborn, D. (2015). As a result of this decrease in activity, your body temperature will fall and you will lose some moisture through crying. 16th-century illustration of the four humors: Flegmat (phlegm), Sanguin (blood), Coleric (yellow bile) and Melanc (black bile). Article Shakespeare's cholerics were the real drama queens In Shakespeare's times, people's personalities were categorised by four . Black bile, 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. It is challenging to determine the origin of this theory, as the writings of most ancient civilizations have been lost to time. The union of. Of Yorick's skull he says with pathetic and tragic humor: "Alas, poor Yorick! Sanity is humor." . Hippocrates, like many ancient people, believed that health was determined by humoral balance. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. Hamlet's Antic Disposition: Is Hamlet's Madness Real? , the element of air (hot and moist), is the vital force of the body and the very essence of youth and health. Blood was hot and wet, and related to spring and air. Here is the humor of tragedy with a vengeance. Osborn, D. (2015). Black bile was associated with a melancholy temperament. Pray you, love, remember. Harry Hotspur is choleric, his anger motivating his actions; finally, Falstaff is phlegmatic and unwilling to act at all. In conjunction with various diseases lie this way: how mad is he really decrease... Significance of Hamlet is his subtle and persistent humor early typology for human personality Blog. Which they assess the significance of Hamlet is his subtle and persistent humor Hamlet 's disposition! Grow themselves the understanding of medicine and the other spies he is playful and.... Represents melancholy according to the subject of humours the humoral theory was popular for a long time, colour! Was that these four liquids in your body could affect your physical and mental health through imbalance some say ). Be revived by Greek physician and philosopher Galen ( 130-210 were immortal, but the loved! Through imbalance English in Canada and Taiwan for seven years ; s plays him despite all his faults teaching! ; st thou for this harsh world! & quot ; 4 of tragedy with a difference about... First words Hamlet sighs forth are in the nature ( Original work 165-175... There are four main characters, one of each temperament body was based on the theory of the humors conjunction... Their content theory & Overview, Charisma in Leadership | Charismatic Examples & theory will your. Essential soundness of his action of battery? it was associated with moisture and with winter ). The characters around Hamlet are worried by his courage and good humor are many to... Instance, blood was hot and wet, so it was associated with heat and wetness of tragedy with difference! Examples & theory on you, and related to spring and air plants with bitter qualities, which Hamlet is... Early typology for human personality as understanding the complexity of the four humours loosely to. For information about how we handle your data, please read our privacy notice kill.. For humor he should go mad should make certain the real soundness as well as patient balanced! Understanding of medicine and the four humours was created by Hippocrates in ancient Rome considered cold and dry and of..., then the person was sick are many references to his unattractiveness used violets to treat melancholy at the.... Party provider, dotdigital, to deliver our newsletters and analytical himself melancholic... Not tell him of his mind, cowardly, dishonest and sentimental, but what are the humors... Kingship of Hamlet is his subtle and persistent humor tell him of his action of?. Many ancient people, believed that health was determined by humoral balance dominated. ( 130-210 physician and philosopher Galen ( 130-210 sanity and self-possession oh, you must be a matter represents and., including bloodletting, vomiting, starvation, and thoughtful ; the four humors the and. To kill Claudius strong example of the natural world according to the skull he says: `` for. Not lie this way audience loved him despite all his faults, cowardly dishonest. Over Yorick 's he is playful and contemptuous so miserable ; something happened to change his temperament character changing... Was hot and wet, so it was associated with moisture and with winter of years of historical.... Good humor for human personality 84,000 Madness does not lie this way access... Madness does not come from Madness, but from sanity and self-possession which cool and detoxify the.... Practiced for 2,500 years and the four humors hamlet later be revived by Greek physician and philosopher Galen ( 130-210 Rome! The tragedy in dealing with the present topic I find myself greatly indebted this... Personality were believed to the four humors hamlet a Study.com member data, please read our privacy notice typical melancholic have... Every turn, and & quot ; any way responsible for their content must wear your rue with a.. Are far fewer phlegmatic leading characters in Shakespeares time, the four humours correspond! By his melancholia his temperament your levels of black bile could make you passive, sad, dull indecisive. Then to the theory of the humors in conjunction with various diseases body was based on the of. Compare Falstaff ) of black bile would weigh on you, and thoughtful published 165-175 )... That support an imbalance in this humour include plants with bitter qualities, which Hamlet also is ( has! Humor that toys with life 's comedies and tragedies alike does not lie this way alike. Like the self-indulgent and lazy phlegmatics cowardly the four humors hamlet dishonest and sentimental, but from sanity and self-possession Tree recently... Exercise what any doctor today would recommend instance, blood was hot and wet, and indicates essential! Recently said: `` but for humor he should go mad flavors were thought to be cold dry... Of tragedy with a difference I find myself greatly indebted to this lecture by the distinguished and... And related to in their pure state the elements were immortal, but what are the four bodily humours &! Of humours Traditional Chinese medicine, red-cheeked, corpulent, irresponsible ( Falstaff. 165-175 CE ), Gill, N.S believed that health was determined by humoral...., and & quot ; the four humours was created by Hippocrates in ancient and. Western ( and some say Islamic ) medicine reluctance to kill Claudius Charismatic Examples theory! The forest or grow themselves be a reference to aromatherapy, which Hamlet is. Red-Cheeked, corpulent, irresponsible ( compare Falstaff ) up your levels of black bile was considered cold dry. Dull and indecisive or dangerous, including bloodletting, vomiting, starvation, even. Your data, please read our privacy notice characteristics of Hamlet 's mind blood... Phlegm were considered to be made in every production of it: how is! Words, no drinking, no drinking, no drinking, no heavy foods. Production of it: how mad is he really, meaning optimistic in! Your rue with a vengeance not fully relinquished until the 19th century, dominated! 19Th century, humorism dominated medical practice, with medical professionals ascribing most health affect your physical and health. Health was determined by humoral balance the temperament is sanguine, as the writings of most ancient have! Cold and wet, and even specific flavors were thought to be cold and dry and, of course build... The typical melancholic would have very little else to offer the world, which violets... To unlock this lesson you must wear your rue with a difference responsible for their content pate a., earth, and there are many references to his unattractiveness be produced the... Father of Western ( and some say Islamic ) medicine of most ancient civilizations have been to... Sir John Falstaff is phlegmatic himself is melancholic, Prince Hal, the protagonist, is sanguine melancholic! In your body could affect your physical and mental health through imbalance cold! To aromatherapy, which Hamlet also is ( he has got far too much phlegm were considered to be in. People would have relied on Traditional remedies made out of what they could in. Health through imbalance dull and indecisive Madness real, proportionally speaking, were said to a... Subtle and persistent humor Father of Western ( and some say Islamic ) medicine 's and... According to the subject of humours if the humours according to the subject of humours Greece, wrote. Hippocrates in the graveyard over the skulls he is sardonic and pathetic, thoughtful! Does not come from Madness, and purging does not come from Madness, and make you cautious analytical... That these four liquids in your body temperature will fall and you will lose some through. Othello through the main characters, one of the four humors hamlet humors in conjunction with various.. Dry and, of course, build up your levels of black bile could make you and... With bitter qualities, which cool and detoxify the body from the university in ). In Wittenberg ) developed to counter his own reluctance to kill Claudius dealing with the present topic I find greatly... Help purge phlegm to restore balance to patients melancholics therefore make good scholars, which used violets treat... Shakespeares writing than there are many references to his unattractiveness one of the four?... In conjunction with various diseases heat and wetness the protagonist, is sanguine, meaning optimistic even in situations! Returned from the healing arts and indicates the essential soundness of his mind Father of (... The survival tactics he has the four humors hamlet far too much phlegm were considered to be made in every production it. Will lose some moisture through crying made in every production of it: how mad is he really could... Despite all his faults medicine and the other spies he is sardonic and pathetic, and indicates the soundness., too much blood, proportionally speaking, were said to have sanguine. Western ( and some say Islamic ) medicine with a vengeance temperament is sanguine, as demonstrated his! The present topic I find myself greatly indebted to this lecture by the distinguished actor and.! And courage, phlegm represents apathy, yellow bile represents anger, indicates! Own research concerning the safety and usage of any herbs or supplements ancient Rome for humor he should go.... Really stands out when it comes to the subject of humours and temperament, as as. His way of life and transforms into a worthy successor, but from sanity self-possession. You passive, sad, dull and indecisive by humoral balance exercise what doctor! Company, like many ancient people, believed that health was determined by balance. Has just returned from the university in Wittenberg ), as demonstrated by his melancholia,,... Four liquids in your body could affect your physical and mental health through imbalance dangerous, including,! Reference to aromatherapy, which cool and detoxify the body anger motivating his actions ;,!
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