As You Like It
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As You Like It
The main themes of "As You Like It" are the pastoral ideal and the
ideal of romantic love. Forest of Aden is the primary setting where these themes
develop. Nature serves as a refuge from society where we can find solutions to
injustice and unhappiness. This play is a comedy and thus has a happy ending but
it is not a fairy tail. Shakespeare highlights the difference between reality
and illusion. Rosalind embodies the sensibility, the humor and the kind of love
that leads to a happy, harmonious living. She brings the plot to a resolution
when four contrasting romances end in marriage. The focus of the play is her
romance with Orlando. Rosalind wants to find a lover without losing her sense of
self in the process. Rosalind answers the questions about love, which arise
during the play. She is a lovesick maiden and yet she remains an intelligent,
witty, and strong character. Rosalind is also a good judge of character. She
sees through Jaque's seemingly deep thoughts and recognizes the wisdom of clown
Touchstone. Furthermore, she cleverly uses her disguise to get to know Orlando
and educate him about love. The meeting of Orlando and Rosalind is the most
important event in Act 1 of the play; it is love at first sight. Celia and her
cousin talk about falling in love just before the wrestling match. From
henceforth I will, coz, and devise sports. Let me see, what think you of falling
in love? Her words indicate that Rosalind is ready to face the danger of falling
in love. She infers that her father would approve of Orlando because her father
approved of his father Sir Rowland. Their meeting reveals a vulnerable side of
the Rosalind as she gives him a chain, says, "Gentleman, wear this for
me" and waits for him to continue the conversation. In Act Shakespeare
draws parallels between Rosalind's relationship with Celia and Orlando's
relationship with Adam. When Duke Fredrick banishes his niece from the court,
Celia makes a quick decision to go to the Forest of Aden with her cousin and to
look for her uncle. This illustrates the degree if love and loyalty between
them. Orlando's elder brother Oliver denies him education. When Orlando is
leaving for the forest Adam wants to go with him to serve and protect him.
Master, go on, and I will follow thee To the last gasp with truth and loyalty…
Yet fortune cannot recompense me better Than to die well and not my master's
debtor. (2.4. 70-75) Soon after entering the Forest of Arden Rosalind discovers
love poem...
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