The Humoral Theory Of William Shakespeares Romeo And Juliet

The humoral theory is one of the oldest theories of Medicine that proposed that our bodies are made up of four different humours: black bile, blood, phlegm, and yellow bile. It was believed that while in good health the humours were in a harmonious balance throughout the body but illness is said to have disrupted that balance causing one or more humour to become disordered. It is also said that the mind is effected by the equilibrium of the four temperaments known as melancholic, sanguine, choleric, and phlegmatic and that they dispersed to make up certain characteristics or personality traits. Critics have long described Shakespeare as using these humours and temperaments as a way for the audience to understand the character, plot and other aspects of his plays. In such plays as Romeo and Juliet where critics have described Romeo as being a melancholy figure it is exceptionally brought about by using the four humours involved in the humoral theory that is said to have first originat ed by Hippocrates and later elaborated on by Galen. The four humours include Black Bile which is related to the melancholic temperament and said to be associated with the element earth, the season of winter, the planet Saturn, the spleen, and cold and dry qualities. The humour Blood is related to the sanguine temperament and associated with the element air, the season spring, the planet Jupiter, the heart, and hot and moist qualities. While Phlegm is associated with the temperament phlegmaticShow MoreRelatedWilliam Shakespeare s Romeo And Juliet1998 Words   |  8 PagesIn the plays, Romeo and Juliet and 1 Henry VI, by William Shakespeare, the concept of humoral theory helps to explain many of the behaviors the characters display in the plays. Humoral theory works to explain workings within the human body. According to the Welcome Library of London, â€Å"Humors existed as liquids within the body and were identified as blood, phlegm, black bile and yellow bile. These were in turn associated with the fundamental elements of air, water, earth and fire.† The elements are