As You Like It as a Romantic Comedy

AS YOU LIKE IT by William Shakespe atomic number 18 THE AUTHOR William Shakespe ar (1564-1616) was born into the family of a prosperous trades humanness in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. While in his mid-teens, he was forced to communicate school because his family vaporize into a period of poverty, so that he had further a rudi handstary education. In 1582, he hook up with Anne Hathaway, eight years his senior and already three months pregnant. The marriage produced three children in three years, nonwithstanding in 1585, Shakespe ar left Stratford to go to London to seek his fortune in the big city.In London, he embarked upon a career on the stage, becoming a popular actor by the early fifteen nineties. In 1591, he penned his first move, Loves Labours Lost. His early plays were comedies, and show nothing of the reasonableness that characterized his later works. His plots were borro conjoin from a variety of sources, twain antique and contemporary. During his career, he wro te 37 plays, three narrative poems, and 154 sonnets. His composition brought him fame and popularity, even he continued to act as well as write (critics cognize to contemplate roughly which of the characters in his plays would bear been played by the author).He eventu whatevery became a shareholder in the manu incidenturer Chamberlains work force (later the Kings Men when James I ascended the thr unity). Most of his plays were performed at local anaesthetic theaters comparable the Rose, the Globe, and the indoor B lackfriars. When the Globe burned to the ground in 1613 (a plundernon misfired during a performance of enthalpy VIII), Shakespeare retired, and died in Stratford three years later on his fifty-second birthday. As You homogeneous It (1600) has for the last two centuries been genius of Shakespeares intimately popular comedies. It is a countrified romance a genre originating in ancient Greece and still popular in Elizabethan England.As he did in so many of h is plays, Shakespeare borrowed the basic recital from an earlier work in this case, Thomas clubs prose romance Rosalynde, or Euphues Golden Legacy. Into Lodges basic framework Shakespeare introduces rollicking comedy absent from the original, along with new characters like Touchstone, Audrey, and Jaques. No one, either in Shakespeares day or ours, pass judgment realism in such a story. Instead, characters and reference alike find joy in the freedom of the fo quell and countryside, where stock characters do marvelous hings and meet with unlikely coincidences. And where, of course, (almost) solelyone gets married in the end and bangs happily ever after. MAJOR CHARACTERS Duke aged(a) The just duke, he is forced into transportation in the Forest of Arden by his jealous blood fellow. Duke Frederick He forces his brother into exile and usurps his throne, precisely eventually is converted and returns the duchy to its rightful ruler. Jaques A lord under Duke senior(a), h e is incurably melancholy, even when all around him are rejoicing. Charles Duke Fredericks prize wrestler, he is defeated by Orlando.Oliver first son and heir of Sir Rowland de Boys, he has deprived his brothers of their rightful inheritance and is terribly jealous of his noble youngest brother. When quest Orlando in the Forest of Arden, he meets, travel in delight with, and marries Celia, yields his inheritance to his youngest brother, and decides to live the intent of a shepherd. Orlando Youngest son of Sir Rowland de Boys, he is forced into exile in the Forest of Arden by his brother, where he is reunited with his screw Rosalind. He eventually regains his inheritance from his beginner.Touchstone The fool in Duke Fredericks judgeship, he too deseparate for the Forest of Arden, where he meets and marries Audrey. disco biscuit Orlandos eighty-year-old servant who finances his flight with his life savings and accompanies Orlando into exile in the Forest of Arden. Corin An decrepit shepherd in the Forest of Arden. Silvius A young shepherd madly in love with Phebe, a shepherdess who constantly scorns his adhesion. Eventually they tie with the help of Rosalind. Rosalind Daughter of Duke precedential, she flees to the forest disguised as a man named Ganymede to find her father, and there invades and eventually marries Orlando.Celia Daughter of Duke Frederick and Rosalinds best friend, she accompanies Rosalind to Arden, besides in disguise as Ganymedes sister Aliena, and falls in love with and marries a reformed Oliver. Phebe A shepherdess costly of Silvius, she falls in love with Rosalind in male disguise plainly eventually yields to the faithful attentions of her fellow shepherd. Audrey A country wench who falls in love with and marries Touchstone. NOTABLE QUOTATIONS Love no man in in effect(p) earnest, nor no further in sport neither than with safety of a pure efflorescence thou mayst in honor come off again. (Celia, Ii i, 26-28) The more pity that fools may not declaim wisely what wise men do foolishly. (Touchstone, Iii, 83-84) Sir, you have wrestled well, and overthrown More than your enemies. (Rosalind, Iii, 255-256) Sweet are the uses of adversity, Which, like the toad, fugly and venomous, Wears yet a unprecedented jewel in his head And this our life, exempt from public haunt, Finds tongues in trees, books in rill brooks, Sermons in stones, and good in boththing I would not change it. (Duke Senior, IIi, 12-18) O, what a world is this, when what is lovely Envenoms him that bears it (Adam, IIiii, 15-16) I can suck melancholy pop of a song as a weasel sucks eggs. (Jaques, IIv, 11-12) any the worlds a stage, And all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances, And one man in his prison term plays many parts, His acts creation seven stages. At first, the infant, Mewling and puking in the nurses arms. wherefore the whining schoolson, with his satchel And shining morning face, creeping like snail Un resultingly to school. And because the lover, Sighing like furnace, with a criminal ballad Made to his mistress eyebrow.Then a soldier, Full of strange oaths and bearded like the pard, Jealous in honor, sudden and quick in quarrel, Seeking the bubble reputation Even in the cannons mouth. And thus the justice, In fair round belly with good capon lined, With eyes severe and beard of stately cut, Full of wise saws and modern instances And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts Into the lean and slippered pantaloon, With specs on nose and pouch on side His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide For his shrunk shank, and his big manly voice, Turning again toward childish treble, pipes And whistles in his sound.Last characterisation of all, That ends this strange consequential history, Is second childishness and mere oblivion, Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans e reallything. (Jaques, IIvii, 149-176) Those that are good ma nners at the hook are as ridiculous in the country as the behavior of the country is most treatable at the chat up. (Corin, IIIii, 45-48) Do you not be intimate I am a woman? When I think, I must speak. (Rosalind, IIIii, 248249) Sell when you can you are not for all markets. (Rosalind, IIIv, 65) I had rather have a fool to make me cheery than experience to make me sad. (Rosalind, IVi, 25-27) The poor world is almost six thousand years old, and in all this time there was not any man died in his own person, videlicet, in a love cause. (Rosalind, IVi, 89-92) Editors note Usshers famous chronology appeared almost fifty years later, but obviously his estimate of the age of the earth was commonly accepted long before he published his work. Men have died from time to time, and worms have eaten them, but not for love. (Rosalind, IVi, 101-102) Your brother and my sister no quite met but they looked no sooner looked but they loved no sooner loved but they sighed no sooner sighed b ut they asked one many other the reason no sooner knew the reason but they sought the vivify and in these degrees have they made a pair of stairs to marriage, which they depart climb incontinent, or else be incontinent before marriage. (Rosalind, Vii, 31-38) A poor virgin, sir, and ill-favored thing, sir, but mine own. A poor surliness of mine, sir, to take that that no man else volition. (Touchstone, Viv, 61-63) NOTES morsel I, persuasion 1 The play begins with Orlando, the youngest son of Sir Rowland de Boys, complaining of his discussion by his eldest brother Oliver. Oliver, the heir of his fathers estate, has withheld from Orlando the small inheritance left him by his father and has refused to provide for his education. When Orlando confronts Oliver, he refuses to honor his fathers wishes. After Orlando leaves, Oliver meets Charles Duke Fredericks wrestler. We discover from their onversation that Duke Frederick has usurped the dukedom from his brother Duke Senior, who has fled to the Forest of Arden with some of his faithful nobles. Duke Seniors daughter, the lovely Rosalind, remains at court under Duke Fredericks protection, largely because she is the best friend of Duke Fredericks daughter Celia. Charles intends to stage a combat exhibition the next day, and Orlando plans to challenge him. Oliver paints a picture of Orlando as a supposeable villain and advises Charles to project him in order to avoid the treachery that the young man will authentic enoughly bring to the ring.In a plan soliloquy, however, we find that Orlando is a noble young man despite his lack of education, and is hated by his brother because of his sterling character. Act I, prospect 2 Rosalind and Celia are talking outside the dukes palace. Rosalind is joyless because her father has been banished. Celia, trying to cheer her up, speaks of their friendship and the kindness of Frederick toward Rosalind, and promises that, when she inherits her fathers kingdom, she wi ll return to Rosalind what Frederick had stolen from her father Duke Senior. As they commuting clever quips, Touchstone, the dukes jester, enters.Further witticisms follow, after which Le Beau, a courtier to Duke Frederick announces that the wrestlers are approaching. Charles has already disturbed the ribs of three challengers, and is just about to wrestle the young Orlando. Celia and Rosalind, fearing for his safety, try to dissuade him from taking up Charles challenge, but he refuses to relent. To the astonishment of all, Orlando makes the match. Frederick asks who he is, but scowls on finding that he is the son of is old enemy Sir Rowland. The girls pride Orlando, and Rosalind gives him her necklace.The two are obviously attracted to one another. After the girls leave, Le Beau returns and warns Orlando to flee to avoid the dukes wrath he also tells him that Frederick is becoming jealous of Rosalinds popularity and is likely to turn against her as well. Act I, scene 3 Rosali nd has fallen head over heels in love with Orlando, and Celia tries to break her out of her melancholy. Their rally is interrupted by Duke Frederick, who abruptly has decided to banish Rosalind for no better reason than that she is her fathers daughter she is to leave the realm within ten days on penalty of death.Celia pleads for her cousin, to no avail, and then insists that, because she cannot live without her best friend, she will accompany her into exile. After Frederick leaves, the two girls decide to seek Duke Senior in the Forest of Arden. For safetys sake, Rosalind will disguise herself as a man and be called Ganymede, art object Celia will dress like a peasant and present herself as Ganymedes sister Aliena. They also determine to take the court jester Touchstone with them to provide amusement on their journey.Act II, scene 1 The scene now moves to the Forest of Arden, where Duke Senior and his attendants are waxing philosophical about their plight. Jaques alone among the Dukes attendants remains depressed, mourning over the despoliation of the wilderness by the hunters of Seniors party. Act II, scene 2 Duke Frederick discovers the flight of Rosalind, Celia, and Touchstone and suspects that Orlando, with whom Rosalind is clearly enamored, had something to do with it. He orders Oliver brought before him, intending to make him find his brother and the rest of the refugees.Act II, scene 3 Orlandos elderly servant Adam warns him that Oliver intends to kill him. Orlando is at a loss, not wanting to take to the road where his only mean of survival would be begging or thievery. Adam offers him five hundred crowns, his life savings, and the two together flee the vengeance of Oliver. Act II, scene 4 Rosalind, Celia, and Touchstone arrive in the Forest of Arden in a state of exhaustion. There they encounter Corin and Silvius, two shepherds. The two are speaking of Silvius profound but unrequited love for the shepherdess Phebe.The conversation reminds Rosal ind of her love for Orlando. After Silvius runs in search of his beloved, Touchstone approaches Corin to try to buy food for the party. Corin tells them he is in the rent of a churlish farmer who is trying to sell his farm. Rosalind offers to buy it and continue to employ Corin in running it. Act II, scene 5 Elsewhere in the forest, Jacques luxuriates in his melancholy mood while another courtier, Amiens, sings to him. Amiens tells Jaques that Duke Senior has been looking for him, but Jaques replies that he has been trying to avoid his master in his search for solitude.Act II, scene 6 Orlando and Adam arrive in the Forest of Arden. The elderly Adam is near exhaustion, so Orlando tells him to rest while he goes in search of something to eat. Act II, scene 7 Duke Senior and his men go in search of Jaques. When they find him, he tells them of meeting Touchstone and reports their conversation. Jaques then wishes that he could be a fool so he could speak his mind without anyone takin g offense. At that point Orlando bursts in upon them with blade drawn and demands food. untold to his surprise, they respond like gentlemen and offer him part of their repast.He then goes to fetch Adam. Jaques then meditates on the futility of life in the plays most famous speech. Orlando then returns with Adam, and as they eat Duke Senior discovers that he is the son of his old friend Sir Rowland de Boys. Act III, scene 1 Duke Frederick, furious at his inability to locate the runa slipway, seizes Olivers property and swears that he will return it only when Oliver produces his brother Orlando, dead or alive. Act III, scene 2 As the scene opens, Orlando is hanging verses in praise of Rosalind on every tree of the forest and carving her name into their trunks.After he leaves, Corin and Touchstone banter about the differences between the court and the country. Rosalind and Celia then enter, having found Orlandos verses. Touchstone mocks them, but Celia pulls Rosalind aside and tel ls her that the author wears Rosalinds chain about his neck and is none other than Orlando. Rosalind then barrages her with questions faster than Celia can answer. The girls hide as Orlando enters with Jaques. The melancholy courtier wants nothing but to be left alone and scorns Orlando for the folly of his love.After Jaques leaves, Rosalind, still disguised as Ganymede, approaches Orlando. The two exchange sallies about Time, then Orlando, marveling at Ganymedes educated speech, asks the youth if he is native to the forest. Ganymede responds that he is, but was educated by a scholarly uncle who warned him against the wiles of women. Orlando asks him to inform him of these dangers, admitting that he is the one who has been decorating the forest with love poems. Ganymede tells him that he nothing of the lovers appearance about him, but says that he could cure him of love if he really had been victimized by it.He asks him how, and he says that he must pretend that he is his beloved, a nd he will be as pettish and inconstant as any woman alive, and thus cure him of his malady. He really has no desire to be cured, but he agrees to come to Ganymedes cottage every day and woo him in the name of Rosalind. Act III, scene 3 Touchstone is wooing a country wench named Audrey. He becomes frustrated because she is unable to comprehend any of his sallies, but he offers to attach her and engages Sir Oliver Martext for the purpose, calculating that rites performed in such a setting are not likely to be very binding.Sir Oliver, however, insists that they be married in the church with witnesses, so Touchstone puts him off. Act III, scene 4 Rosalind is wrathful because Orlando has not appeared at the appointed time and tells Celia that his love must not be genuine. Celia tries to help by weighty her that all men are thus, but Rosalind is not to be comforted. Corin then enters and tells the girls that Silvius is nearby, still act the scornful Phebe, and they decide to watch the sport Rosalind, in disguise as Ganymede, will even play a role in the romance.Act III, scene 5 Silvius is mooning after Phebe, who plainly tells him that she does not love him and begs him to leave her alone. At this point Ganymede intervenes, chastising Phebe for rejecting the true love of a good and loyal man despite the fact that she bears little in the way of beauty and wondering wherefore a fine youth like Silvius would waste his time on such a scold. She advises Phebe to turn away from her pride and accept Silvius overtures of affection. Much to Rosalinds surprise, however, Phebe quickly falls in love with Ganymede despite the repeated insults rained upon her.After Rosalind, Celia, and Corin leave, Phebe reluctantly allows Silvius to accompany her, but can do nothing but talk about Ganymede, though she professes not to love him and wants to send off him a bitter missive in response to his insults. Act IV, scene 1 The scene begins with brief banter between Rosalind and Jaques, after which Orlando enters, an hour late for his appointment. He addresses the youth he knows as Ganymede by the name Rosalind, and she torments him about the follies of love, going so far as to have Celia conduct a mock wedding.Orlando then leaves for dinner with the Duke while Rosalind counts the minutes until his return. Act IV, scene 2 Hunters return to the Dukes plurality having killed a deer and sing a song of celebration. Act IV, scene 3 Orlando is again late, and Rosalinds fretting is interrupted by Silvius, who brings a letter from Phebe. The missive is a love letter, pouring out the shepherdess affection for Ganymede while she dismisses Silvius, she swears she will die if Ganymede will not have her.Rosalind, disgusted at Phebes lack of appreciation for Silvius and the lads persistent affection for one so false, nonetheless sends him back to his beloved with the mental object that, if Phebe truly loves Ganymede, she will love Silvius for his sake. After Silvius departs, Oliver arrives with terrible news Orlando has been seriously wounded in combat with a lion. Apparently Oliver, on his way to seek Orlando on behalf of Duke Frederick, had a change of union and determined to seek his brother in order to make amends. He fell asleep in the forest and was set upon, first by a snake, and then by a lion, both of which Orlando drove off.The two brothers were then reconciled, and Orlando introduced Oliver to Duke Senior, who received him gladly. When Orlando fainted from the wound he had received from the lion, he sent Oliver with a pass on for Rosalind. Hearing of her loves injuries, Rosalind too passes out, causing Oliver to wonder about the character of this youthful Ganymede, but she claims that she was merely continuing to play the part of Orlandos love Rosalind. Act V, scene 1 Audrey is still upset that Touchstone refused to let Sir Oliver Martext marry them, but he promises that he will yet wed her.Soon William, a previous suitor of Aud rey, arrives, and Touchstone runs verbal rings around him and tells him to leave Audrey alone at peril of his life. Act V, scene 2 The Forest of Arden clearly has strange powers we now find that Oliver and Aliena (Celia) have fallen in love at first sight and intend to marry the next day. Oliver tells Orlando that he will yield to him all his fathers estate so he and Celia can live in pastoral bliss in the forest. Orlando then tells Rosalind of the sudden romance of Oliver and Celia, but bemoans the fact that he still has not obtained the object of his affections.Rosalind, still in the guise of Ganymede, tells him that she has studied under a great magician, and promises that if he comes to the wedding the next day organized to marry, she will bring his Rosalind there to wed him. Silvius and Phebe then enter, creating an interesting little love quadrangle Phebe loves Ganymede, Silvius loves Phebe, Orlando loves Rosalind, and Ganymede loves no woman. Rosalind attempts to sort ou t the perplexity by telling Silvius that she will help him if she can, and that he ill be married on the morrow telling Phebe that she would love her if she could, and would marry her if ever she marries a woman, but that she will wed on the morrow and promises Orlando that she will satisfy him, and that he will be married on the morrow as well. All, then, are to meet the interest day at Oliver and Celias wedding. Act V, scene 3 Audrey and Touchstone look forward to their wedding the next day, and they are conjugated by two of the Dukes pages, who sing a love song. Act V, scene 4 The follo gain groundg day, all gather at a clearing in the forest.Rosalind, still disguised as Ganymede, makes Duke Senior promise to give his daughter to Orlando should she appear and makes Phebe promise to marry Silvius if she decides not to marry Ganymede. She then leaves with Celia to prepare for the nuptials. While they are gone, Touchstone and Audrey appear and the Fool banters with Jaques and t he Duke. Hymen then enters with Celia, and Rosalind in her own character. Duke Senior recognizes his daughter and Orlando his love, while Phebe recognizes that her Ganymede is not what he appeared to be and settles for Silvius after all.After a wedding song, Jacques de Boys, the middle brother of Oliver and Orlando, enters and announces that Duke Frederick, on h is way to the forest with vengeance in his heart, had met a holy man and been converted. He had then restored the dukedom to Duke Senior and restored the lands of all he had deprived. Frederick intends to retire to a religious life in the forest. Jaques decides to join him while the others begin a dance of celebration. Rosalind then delivers a brief Epilogue. ESSAY QUESTIONS plow the following in a five-paragraph essay 1. canvass and contrast the courses of the love between Silvius and Phebe in William Shakespeares As You bid It and that between Helena and Demetrius in A midsummer Nights Dream. Be sure to consider the rel ationships between the wooer and the wooed, the language used to express their quarrels, and the ways in which the playwright resolves the relationships. Compare and contrast the roles played by the forest in William Shakespeares As You Like It and A Midsummer Nights Dream. Though the two settings are transformative in different ways, both play prodigious roles in changing those who enter their precincts.Relate these changes and they ways in which they occur to the central stalks of the two comedies. Setting plays a major role in William Shakespeares As You Like It. deal the contrast between the Dukes court and the Forest of Arden. Be sure to consider its impact on the behavior and attitudes of the characters, giving special(prenominal) attention to those who experience changes when moving from one purlieu to the other. In the movie version of William Shakespeares As You Like It directed by Kenneth Branagh, the same actor plays both Duke Senior and his brother Duke Frederick.Co mment on this decision. What possible advantages and disadvantages could such a casting choice have? How might it contribute to the effective communications of the track themes of the play? In William Shakespeares As You Like It, Duke Senior waxes philosophical about his exile in the Forest of Arden in these lecture Sweet are the uses of adversity, Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in his head And this our life, exempt from public haunt, Finds tongues in trees, books in running brooks, Sermons in stones, and good in everything I would not change it. How does the play demonstrate the sweet uses of adversity? In what ways do the central characters benefit from separation from their normal lives and forced exile to a strange environment? Choose three characters and describe how their experience in the Forest of Arden brings about positive changes in their personalities. Discuss the role of Jaques in William Shakespeares As You Like It. How does the incurably melancholy courtier help to bring out the central themes of the play? Is he an insightful social critic or a boring pessimist? contain your conclusions with specifics from the play. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. In William Shakespeares As You Like It, Duke Senior intones, Sweet are the uses of adversity. Is this statement true in the context of the play? Does the statement correspond with biblical teaching? Do the two treat the head in the same ways? Why or why not? defend your assessment with specifics, both from the play and from Scripture. Perhaps the most famous speech in William Shakespeares As You Like It is delivered by Jaques in Act II, scene vii.After bemoaning the fact that All the worlds a stage, and all the men and women merely players, he speaks of the seven stages of man, ending, as is typical with him, on a melancholy note. Critique the message of the speech. In what ways is it accurate and in what ways is it not? Be sure to consider not only the context of the play, but also biblical teaching about both the dignity and darkness of man and the meaning of human life on earth. William Shakespeares As You Like It contains one of the most famous lines in the entire Shakespearean canon All the worlds a stage, and all the men and women merely players. Appropriately enough, many characters in the play engage in playacting, taking on roles to mask their true identities. In addition to serving as a device to drive the plot, what is the moment of these frequent masquerades? look at the major themes of the play along with the restrictions imposed by the theater of Shakespeares day in your answer. One of the central ideas in William Shakespeares As You Like It is the contrast between court and country life. In Act III, scene ii of the play, Touchstone and Corin argue about the differences between the two.In the process, Corin says, Those that are good manners at the court are as ridiculous in the country as the behavior of the country is most mockable a t the court. Is Shakespeare here arguing for what today would be called Cultural Relativism, or does he favor country life over court life (or the other way around)? In answering the question, consider the ending, giving attention to the significance of some characters returning to court and others remaining in the country. In Act III, scene ii of William Shakespeares As You Like It, Rosalind says to Celia, Do you not know I am a woman?When I think, I must speak. In general, the play at times seems to promote gender stereotypes such as this, while at other times those stereotypes are challenged, especially through the character of Rosalind herself, who is surely one of Shakespeares strongest heroines. Evaluate the view of women presented in the play, being sure to include specific quotations and incidents in your analysis. William Shakespeares As You Like It seems at the same time both to ridicule and to promote romantic love.The same Rosalind who says, Men have died from time to time, and worms have eaten them, but not for love, falls head over heels in love with Orlando, a man to whom she has spoken only once, and few love affairs could be more improbable than those between Touchstone and Audrey and Oliver and Celia. Does Shakespeare value the angel of romantic love, or is he mocking it? Evaluate the view of love presented in the play, being sure to include specific quotations and incidents in your analysis. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. William Shakespeares As You Like It ends with four marriages.Which of those marriages do you think will be the happiest, and which the most torturous? Why do you think so? Consider what you know about the characters, their patterns of behavior, and the environments in which their marriages will be lived out in answering the question. In literature, a foil is a character who brings out the salient characteristics of another by contrast. In William Shakespeares As You Like It, whom would you consider the most effective foil for Ros alind? Would you choose Celia, Orlando, Touchstone, or someone else?Defend your choice by noting why that character is a better foil for the heroine than the other possibilities. William Shakespeares As You Like It contains a fool, Touchstone, and a character who is foolish in his melancholy, Jaques. Compare and contrast these characters and the roles they play with Feste and Malvolio in Shakespeares Twelfth Night. workout specific incidents and quotations from the two plays to support your analysis. In Shakespeares day, women were prohibited from performing on stage. Instead, womens parts were played by boys whose voices had not yet changed.Consider the implications of this practice for the character of Rosalind in William Shakespeares As You Like It. When Rosalind disguises herself in the Forest of Arden as Ganymede, then entices Orlando to make love to him in order to learn how to win his beloved, we see a boy playing a girl disguised as a boy pretending to be a girl in order to help a boy win a girls love. In addition to the obvious possibilities for humor such gender confusion provided, what do you think Shakespeare may have been trying to say? How might this have differed from the predictable homosexual interpretations given by modern commentators?In William Shakespeares As You Like It, characters who espouse extreme views of life and love are subject to ridicule. If Aristotle presented the Golden Mean as the midpoint between two extremes, explain how this Golden Mean is held up as the ideal in Shakespeares play. Who represents this Golden Mean? What characters dish as the extremes between which this sensible center is located? Use specifics from the play to support your argument. William Shakespeares As You Like It focuses on conflicts between two sets of brothers, Duke Senior and Duke Frederick and Oliver and Orlando.Compare and contrast these conflicts to that between Jacob and Esau in the book of Genesis. Consider the characters of the siblings, the driving motives behind the conflicts, and the resolutions with which the conflicts are brought to a close. Discuss the treatment of class distinctions in William Shakespeares As You Like It. Be sure to include not only the conversation between Touchstone and Corin on the subject, but also the issues raised when those of noble birth disguise themselves as commoners. To what extent does the play produce class distinctions and to what extent does it undermine them? 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 0. William Shakespeares As You Like It is full of songs befitting a pastoral romance. Discuss the significance of these songs. Are they intended merely as entertaining interludes, or do the words of the songs help to convey the themes of the play? Be sure to cite specifics from at least three of the songs in your answer. Discuss the significance of the title of William Shakespeares romantic comedy As You Like It. critics have proposed a number of possibilities, from the earreach appeal of the p astoral genre to the ambiguity with which many of the plays themes are treated to the reference to the title in the Epilogue.Choose the meaning that you think most appropriate and defend it with specifics from the play. Elizabethans believed in the Divine Right of Kings that monarchs were appointed to their positions by God, thus equating rebellion with blasphemy. Not surprisingly, many of Shakespeares plays are driven by rulers who have usurped their crowns from their rightful owners. Such is the case with Duke Frederick in As You Like It. Compare and contrast him with another Shakespearean usurper possibilities include Macbeth, Richard III, Claudius in Hamlet, Antonio in The Tempest, or any other candidate you can think of.Pay attention to the characters and motives of the usurpers, their roles in driving the plots of the respective plays, and the outcomes of the resulting conflicts, especially in light of the genre differences among the plays. Analyze the stylistic variations in William Shakespeares As You Like It. Note that the hired hand moves back and forth between blank verse and prose, with some characters always speaking in verse, some always in prose, and some switching from one to the other. Why do you think Shakespeare made these choices?Support your analysis with specific quotations from the play. William Shakespeares As You Like It demands contradictory skills of its audience. On the one hand, the audience is expected to take pleasure in the dramatic irony of Rosalinds disguise, since the viewers know something the characters dont know and can thus gain pleasure from the inside jokes in the dialogue. On the other hand, the audience must exercise a voluntary suspension of disbelief, accepting the fact that, not only does Orlando crumple to recognize his beloved, but Duke Senior also fails to recognize his own daughterWhat qualities of the play itself equip the audience for the needed responses. Do you think a modern audience would be able to ha ndle this contradiction as well as an Elizabethan one? Why or why not? Critic Mark Van Doren, writing on William Shakespeares As You Like It, said, There is only one thing sillier than being in love, and that is thinking it is silly to be in love. In what way is this judgment of conviction an apt summary of Shakespeares popular romantic comedy? Support your conclusion with specifics from the play.In many of William Shakespeares comedies, the forest is symbolic of the breaking down of societys values. Compare and contrast the way this theme is handled in The Two Gentlemen of Verona and As You Like It. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. Both Oliver Goldsmiths She Stoops to Conquer and William Shakespeares As You Like It center around a young woman who disguises herself in order to win the love of a man to whom she is attracted. Compare and contrast the characters of Kate Hardcastle and Rosalind with regard to their motivations, methods, and successes. Which do you find more admirable, and why?