All About As You Like It by William Shakespeare

 

                             As You Like It by William Shakespeare

Source:      Thomas Lodge’s Rosalynde, is the major source of the play, but characters, such as Jaques  

                           and the Clown Touchstone are Shakespeare’s own creation.

Characters:    Orlando, son of Rowland de Bois and loves Rosalind.

                             Oliver, Orlando’s elder brother, becomes his guardian after his father’s death.

Rosalind, Orlando’s beloved, daughter of exiled duke and she lives with her cousin,   Celia.

Celia, daughter of Fredrick, loves Oliver and stays all along with her cousin, Rosalind.

Fredrick, brother of the exiled duke and father of Celia, seeks chance to kill the duke but was     converted to restore the dukedom.

Duke, brother of Fredrick and father of Rosalind, usurped by his brother Fredrick but at the last they reunite.

Jacques, Duke Senior's noblemen who lives with him in the Forest of Arden. 

Touchstone, court jester of Duke Frederick.

Summary:          Fredrick has disinherited his brother duke who is living with his faithful followers in the forest of Ardenne. Rosalind, duke’s daughter and Celia, Fredrick’s daughter, living at the Fredrick’s court. Rosalind is permitted to stay there, on her request. They are watching a wrestling match in which Orlando defeats his opponent. Rosalind and Orlando fall in love and they promise for further dating. Oliver disinherits Orlando and drives him away from the house. He becomes the guardian after the death of Orlando’s father, treats him very poorly. Fredrick, knowing that Orlando is the son of Rowland, a friend of the exiled duke, banishes Rosalind from his court. Celia accompanies her. They appear into the forest as disguised; Rosalind assumes herself as a countryman’s dress and calls herself Ganymede; Celia calls herself Aliena, his sister. They live in the forest of Ardenne, and meet with Orlando, who joined the banished duke. Ganymede persuades Orlando to keep watch over her because she is as his own Rosalind. Oliver, hunger of Orlando’s life, comes to the forest, somehow Orlando save him from a lioness. He is filled with remorse. Oliver also falls in love with Aliena, and their wedding is arranged for the next day. Ganymede assures to Orlando that she will produce Rosalind at the same time to be married to him.

When all gathers to celebrate the double marriages, Celia and Rosalind leave their disguise and appear in their own characters. However, news is brought that Fredrick, who was seeking for duke to kill, converted by a religious man and has restored the dukedom.

As we read the play, noticeable, the plots dominates throughout the play, the plots in which the reflections of Jacques and Touchstone, by the large number of songs.  

Some Important Extracts from the Text

By my troth, thou sayest true; for since

the little wit that fools have was silenced,

the little foolery that wise men have makes

a great show.   (Act I Scene II)

—Touchstone said to Celia.

Wear this for me, one out of suits with Fortune,

That could give more, but that her hand lacks means. (Act. I Scene II)

—Rosalind offers Orlando her necklace, and adds that she would give him more, but she has little.

Alas, what danger will it be to us,

Maids as we are, to travel forth so far!

Beauty provoketh thieves sooner than gold. (Act. I Scene III)

— Celia tells Rosalind

'The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man

knows himself to be a fool.' (Act. V Scene I)

— Touchstone has asked William.

My affection hath an unknown

bottom, like the bay of Portugal. (Act IV Scene I)

— Rosalind hides to Celia that her love for Orlando is infinite.

  

men are April when they woo, December when they wed:

maids are May when they are maids, but the sky

changes when they are wives.  (Act IV Scene I)

— Ganymede speaks Orlando concerning love.

 I had

rather have a fool to make me merry than

experience to make me sad . . . .  (Act IV Scene I)

— Ganymede speaks his opinion of Jaques' precious melancholy

I pray you, do not fall in love with me,

For I am falser than vows made in wine (Act III Scene V)

— Ganymede (Rosalind) arguments to Phebe.

           Time travels in divers paces

with divers persons. I'll tell you who Time

ambles withal, who Time trots withal, who Time

gallops withal and who he stands still withal.  (Act III Scene II)

— Rosalind,  wearing cross-dressed as Ganymede, told Celia.

Do you not know I am a woman? when

I think, I must speak. Sweet, say on.  (Act III Scene II)

— Celia has criticized Rosalind.

Sir, I am a true labourer: I earn that I eat, get

that I wear, owe no man hate, envy no man's

happiness, glad of other men's good, content

with my harm.  (Act III Scene II)

— Corin told to Touchstone.

O Rosalind! These trees shall be my books,

And in their barks my thoughts I'll character,

That every eye which in this forest looks

Shall see thy virtue witness'd every where.

Run, run, Orlando; carve on every tree

The fair, the chaste and unexpressive she.    (Act III Scene II)

— Orlando says to the Rosalind.

Blow, blow, thou winter wind.

Thou art not so unkind

As man's ingratitude   (Act. II Scene VII)

— Lord Amiens sings before Duke Senior.

 All the world's a stage,

And all the men and women merely players:

They have their exits and their entrances;

And one man in his time plays many parts,

His acts being seven ages. At first the infant,

Mewling and puking in the nurse's …  (Act II Scene VII)

Under the greenwood tree

Who loves to lie with me,

And turn his merry note

Unto the sweet bird's throat,

Come hither, come hither, come hither:

Here shall he see

No enemy

But winter and rough weather.  ( Act II Scene V)

— Amiens sings a merriment song, call all who love to sing like birds "under the greenwood tree."

 We that are true lovers run into strange

capers; but as all is mortal in nature, so is all nature

in love mortal in folly. (Act II Scene IV)

 Contemporary Indian English Literature