High Imagination
Shakespeare rejected the fact that writes should be earth-hound, realistic and factual.
He shught an ideal condition for human beings in their high soaring, unlimited
imagination.
**High imagination in "As You Like It":
The Forest of Arden is actually as English forest located near where Shakespeare was
born in Warwickshire, Arden is also the family name of Shakespeare's mother. But
Shakespeare's forest is in fairyland- an English fairyland with the glimpse of the
classical Arcadia. The name "Arden" also belonged to the wooded part of Warwickshire
and their may have been in Shakespeare's mind as well. The play itself includes
pastoral themes from "The counters of Pembroke's Arcadia by Sir Philip Sidney". So, it
invokes the image of Arcadia or paradise. The word further bears a resemblance to
Eden, the Biblical paradise when Adam and Eve first got together, not an entirely
unrealistic interpretation given the four marriages with the play ends. The forest of
Arden play a very significant role in "As You Like It". It appears differently to everyone in
it depending on their personalities. The Forest of Arden gives romantic setting to the
play. In the forest of Arden, two villainous character
Oliver and Duke Frederick, also change into noble minded men.