All the infections that the sun sucks up from bogs, fens, flats, on prosper fall, and make him by inch meal a disease!

All the infections that the sun sucks up from bogs, fens, flats, on prosper fall, and make him by inch meal a disease!

The line “All the infections that the sun sucks up from bogs, fens, flats, on prosper fall, and make him by inch meal a disease!” is from William Shakespeare’s play “Troilus and Cressida”. In this line, Shakespeare uses vivid imagery to describe how the sun absorbs all the impurities and diseases from the swamps, marshes, and lowlands, and then spreads them to the rest of the world, causing sickness and disease.

This line reflects the Elizabethan belief that diseases were caused by miasma, or bad air, which was thought to be created by the sun drawing up impurities from the earth. Shakespeare’s use of the word “inch meal” suggests that the sun slowly and gradually spreads these diseases, infecting people bit by bit. This imagery creates a sense of dread and foreboding, as the sun, typically seen as a source of light and warmth, is now portrayed as a carrier of sickness and death.

The idea of the sun spreading disease also serves as a metaphor for the corrupting influence of power and ambition. In “Troilus and Cressida”, the characters are consumed by their own desires for power, leading to betrayal, deceit, and ultimately, tragedy. Shakespeare suggests that just as the sun spreads disease from the bogs and fens, so too can the pursuit of power and ambition corrupt and destroy individuals.

Overall, this line from “Troilus and Cressida” showcases Shakespeare’s skill in using vivid imagery to convey complex ideas and emotions. By comparing the sun to a carrier of disease, Shakespeare highlights the destructive power of unchecked ambition and the consequences of human folly. The line serves as a reminder of the fragility of human existence and the dangers of succumbing to base desires.