Original artwork, not a still
Hamlet · 1602
An old man is twice a child.
Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
The speaker suggests that old age brings people back to childlike dependence, so a person who has grown old becomes a child for a second time. The line is compact and slightly wry, treating the cycle of life as a return to helplessness, forgetfulness and need for care.
Context reviewed
