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As You Like It Synopsis:
The play is set in a dukedom in France, but most of the action takes place in a location called the ‘Forest of Arden.’
Frederick has usurped the dukedom and exiled his older brother, Duke Senior. The Duke’s daughter Rosalind has been
permitted to remain at court because she is the closest friend and cousin of Frederick’s only child, Celia. Orlando, a young
gentleman of the kingdom who has fallen in love on the first meeting of Rosalind, is forced to flee his home after being
persecuted by his older brother, Oliver. Frederick becomes angry and banishes Rosalind from court. Celia and Rosalind
decide to flee together accompanied by the jester Touchstone, with Rosalind disguised as a young man.
Rosalind, now disguised as Ganymede (“Jove’s own page”), and Celia, now disguised as Aliena (Latin for “stranger”), arrive
in the Arcadian Forest of Arden, where the exiled Duke now lives with some supporters, including “the melancholy Jaques.”
“Ganymede” and “Aliena” do not immediately encounter the Duke and his companions, and instead meet up with Corin, an
impoverished tenant, and offer to buy his master’s cottage and flock which has recently been put up for sale.
Orlando and his servant Adam, meanwhile, find the Duke and his men and are soon living with them and posting simplistic
love poems for Rosalind on the trees. Rosalind, also in love with Orlando, meets him as Ganymede and pretends to counsel
him to cure him of being in love. Ganymede says “he” will take Rosalind’s place and “he” and Orlando can act out their
relationship.
Meanwhile, the shepherdess Phebe, with whom Silvius is in love, has fallen in love with Ganymede (actually Rosalind),
though “Ganymede” continually shows that “he” is not interested in Phebe. The cynical Touchstone has also made amorous
advances towards the dull-witted goat-herd girl Audrey, and attempts to marry her before his plans are thwarted by the
intrusive Jaques.
Finally, Silvius, Phebe, Ganymede, and Orlando are brought together in an argument with each other over who will get
whom. Ganymede says he will solve the problem, having Orlando promise to marry Rosalind, and Phebe promise to marry
Silvius if she cannot marry Ganymede. The next day, Ganymede reveals himself to be Rosalind, and since Phebe has found
her love to be false, she ends up with Silvius.
Meanwhile Orlando sees Oliver in the forest and rescues him from a lioness, causing Oliver to repent for mistreating
Orlando. Oliver meets Aliena (Celia’s false identity) and falls in love with her at first sight, and they agree to marry. Orlando
and Rosalind, Oliver and Celia, Silvius and Phebe, and Touchstone and Audrey all are married in the final scene, after which
they discover that Frederick has also repented his faults, deciding to restore his legitimate brother to the dukedom and
adopt a religious life. Jaques, ever melancholy, declines their invitation to stay in the forest with them and also decides to
adopt a religious life.
Glossary:
The plot of As You Like It: is based on a novel entitled Rosalynde, by Thomas Lodge, which was published in 1590. This
novel was apparently popular, as several editions were published within a few years, and no doubt the story of As You Like
It was already familiar to theatre-goers in Shakespeare’s time. Lodge’s tale was in turn based around a mediaeval poem, the
Tale of Gamelyn, which told the story of three brothers, the youngest of whom is hated by the eldest and forced into exile
to live with a band of outlaws. Shakespeare added various characters, most notably Jaques and Touchstone, changed the
names of others and relocated the setting from the Forest of Ardennes in France to Warwickshire’s Forest of Arden.
The Forest of Arden: In Thomas Lodge’s Rosalynde this was most like likely the Anglicized name of the true French Forest
of Ardennes in northeast France. However there are several references that may have resonated with Shakespeare when
he too called it the Forest of Arden. First the real Forest of Arden in Warwickshire near Shakespeare’s boyhood home in
Stratford Upon Avon. In addition Shakespeare’s mother’s maiden name was Mary Arden and it has been suggested that
this is a nod to her. Another possible source would be an adaptation of the popular Renaissance renewal of the Greek
concept: Arcadia aka Utopia. Arcadia melds well with the pastoral theme of the play in that the rural is idyllic, and in fact
as perfect as Utopia or paradise on earth. This connection to the “golden age” is consistent to other pastoral works. One of
the most famous Arcadia references is the title of two paintings by Nicolas Poussin, depicting idyllic shepherds. The title
is “Et in Arcadia ego.” This translates directly into “and in Arcadia am I,” which is almost identical to Touchstone’s line “Now
am I in Arden.” Touchstone, a vocal proponent of the courtly life, goes on to say he is worse off in Arden because it is not
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the oppressive court he so loves. These paintings would have been familiar to most of Shakespeare’s audience. Regardless
of which reference, or more likely which combination of references, appealed to Shakespeare it is clear that this Forest is
above all a creation of Shakespeare’s boundless imagination. In this Forest of Arden the oak and the palm tree grow side by
side. Here “hungry lioness” and the “green and gilded snake,” live together with peaceful flocks of sheep and “careless herds”
of deer. It is clear to try to identify an actual geographic location of the Forest of Arden would be in vain.
As You Like It, the genesis of the title: The title As You Like It was probably devised from a passage in the preface to Lodge’s
novel, where, after speaking of his story, he says, “ If you like it, so ; and yet I will be yours in duty if you be mine in favour.” In
the epilogue to the play Rosalind plainly refers to the title when she says, “I charge you, O women, for the love you bear to
men, to like as much of the play as please you.”
Act I
Condition of my estate: circumstances of my life
Devise sport: think up games
The good housewife fortune: The figure of fortune was often depicted as a blindfolded woman, turning a great wheel on
which men and women rose and fell according to the course of their individual fortunes. Celia wants to ‘mock the housewife
Fortune from her wheel’, which adds the extra joke of converting the goddess’s wheel into the domestic spinning-wheel of
a mere ‘housewife.’
Nature vs. Fortune: here Celia and Rosalind are bantering about the roles of Nature and Fortune. Nature is responsible
for who the person is and how she looks, and fortune governs what will happen to them. The ladies are discussing who
has bestowed their gifts unequally, such as making an honest and virginal young woman ugly and those of questionable
morality beautiful…
Ill favouredly: unpleasant, ugly
Fool: court jester
Were you made the messenger?: a reference to the Bible (Proverbs 26:6) which warns against sending a message by the
hand of a fool
For since the little wit that fools have was silenced: Celia is very likely making a cloaked reference to the burning of
several books of satirical verse in June of 1599, at the same time this play was being written. These books were banned that
year by the Archbishop of Canterbury. This is parallel to the strict court rules of Duke Frederick
Physic your rankness: cure your issues
Marry: indeed
Anatomize: analyze, minutely describe, dissect
Making such pitiful dole: grieving uncontrollably
Entreated: persuaded
Juno’s Swan: In Roman mythology Juno was the Queen of the Gods
Jove’s own page…Ganymede: In Roman mythology , Jove was the King of the Gods and husband to Juno. Ganymede was
Jove’s page who attended to his master’s every need
Aliena: Celia’s chosen alias latin for stranger
Act II
Poor dappled fools: deer
Low content: humble contentment
Jupiter: aka Jove King of the Gods
The first born of Egypt: reference to the Bible in which God smote all the firstborn of Egypt. Jaques means that he will
curse anyone who disturbs his sleep
Poke: pocket
Motley: the traditional multi-colored costumes worn by Jesters and Fools, like the Joker in a pack of cards.
Compact of jars: made up of discourse
Libertine: hedonist. One who devotes himself exclusively to a life of selfish and sinful pleasures
Disgorge: purge
Seeking the bubble reputation even in the cannon’s mouth: seeking glory, as transient as a bubble, even while staring
down the barrel of a gun
Sans: French for without
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Act III
A natural philosopher: In Shakespeare’ time a “natural” also meant half-wit or idiot, so Touchstone both praises Corin’s
wisdom and calls him a fool.
Western Ind: West Indies
Medlar: a fruit eaten when it was rotten
Irish Rat: Irish satirical poets used satire as a weapon and supposedly killed rats by rhyming them to death.
O knowledge ill inhabited! Worse than Jove in a thatched house: In classical mythology Jove visited the thatched house of
some mortals in disguise. Jaques is ridiculing Touchstone’s courtly jokes as inappropriate to their rural setting.
Feign: lie, fabrication
Living in Bawdry: living in sin
Tapster: meaning a bartender, in this instance they are referring to the fact that tapsters are notoriously unreliable for
overcharging their customers, so Celia is describing both lovers as people who say and confirm false vows.
Horns: Men whose wives cheated on them, called cuckolds, were imagined to have horns on their head. This is a joke that
reoccurs several times in the play. Touchstone speaks extensively on it when he is defending his decision to marry even
though it will most likely lead to horns. (It was commonly believed at the time that women couldn’t control themselves and
would certainly cheat on their husbands) Rosalind also refers to horns when she talks to Orlando about being wooed by a
snail because a snail already has horns and therefore cannot impugn the reputation of his wife.
His kisses are just like Judas’s: Celia is referring to the disciple of Jesus who betrayed him to the Romans with a kiss
Dead shepherd, now I understand what you meant when you said “You never loved until you’ve fallen in love at first sight.”:
The shepherd Phebe is referring to is the poet Christopher Marlow, a contemporary of Shakespeare’s who died in 1593.
Act IV
Sheepcote: shepherd’s cottage
Couching: lying
Act V
Hymen: is the mythological god of marriage
I bar confusion: I forbid disorder
Hymen’s bands: the obligations and duties of marriage
Convertites: converts, hermits, penitents
The Jig: at the end of all Shakespearian plays performed in amphitheatres, comedies and tragedies. The actors performed a
jig to finish the show. After tragedies the jig helped to lift the audiences’ spirits and after a comedy it was a way to celebrate
the experience.
If it be true that good wine need no bush: Branches of ivy were hung in tavern windows to advertise wine
If I were a woman: in Elizabethan England, women were not permitted to perform in plays and therefore all female roles
were played by young men.
Characters
RosalindThe heroine of the play. Rosalind is independent-minded, strong-willed, good-hearted and terribly
clever. She disguises herself as Ganymede, a handsome young man, and offers herself as a tutor in
the ways of love to her beloved Orlando
Orlando A gentleman, but a bit rough-and-tumble. Has had to learn to fight by necessity
He is in love with Rosalind. The youngest son of the late Sir Rowland de Bois,
and younger brother of Oliver
Duke Senior A kindly, eccentric genius and beloved leader, exiled to the Forest of Arden
He is Rosalind’s father
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Jacques A faithful lord who accompanies Duke Senior into exile in the Forest of Arden. Jacques is a
man possessed of a hopelessly melancholy disposition
Celia The daughter of Duke Frederick and Rosalind’s dearest friend and cousin. Celia’s devotion
to Rosalind is unmatched, as evidenced by her decision to follow her cousin into exile
Duke Frederick Duke Senior’s jealous younger sibling, a money-minded usurper. He is father to Celia
Touchstone A clown in Duke Frederick’s court who accompanies Rosalind and Celia in their flight to Arden
Oliver The oldest son of the late Sir Rowland de Bois and sole inheritor of the de Bois estate
Oliver is Orlando’s resentful and bloody older brother
Audrey A simpleminded goatherd who agrees to marry Touchstone
Adam The ancient former servant of Sir Rowland de Bois. Loyal, steadfast servant to Orlando
Silvius A young shepherd, desperately in love with the proud and disdainful Phebe
Phebe A young silly shepherdess who distains the affections of Silvius and falls head over heels
for Ganymede
Le Beau Loyal member of Duke Frederick’s court
Amiens A faithful servant who accompanies Duke Senior into exile
Charles A professional wrestler in Duke Frederick’s court
Corin A simple shepherd
Sir Oliver Martex
Doddering male Cleric
William A young country boy in love with Audrey, and thus Touchstone’s rival
Hymen Goddess of Marriage
Court vs. Country - The Pastoral Theme:
As You Like It reflects many literary and philosophical themes of Shakespeare’s time. One of the most deep-rooted of these
themes is the contrast between the court and the forest, or, more generally, between city and country life. Since most of
the poets and writers of Shakespeare’s day lived in the court, or at least near it in the bustling city of London, they spent
a lot of time pondering the many dangers and hypocrisies of court life, and puzzling over whether human beings were
really better off in a simpler, natural environment. (This attitude makes sense if we remember that the court environment
of Shakespeare’s day had been established by Queen Elizabeth’s father, Henry VIII - who was well-known for whimsically
beheading his wives and anyone else who displeased him. Naturally, most courtiers spent their lives feeling a little edgy.)
This preoccupation led to a literary form called the “pastoral,” which Renaissance English writers based on a classical tradition
of Greek and Latin writings, particularly the Eclogues of the great Roman poet Virgil. In pastoral writings, sophisticated
characters are placed into an idealistic, simplified, “natural” world, and the characters of shepherds and farmers are used to
comment on life in general and the follies of court and city life in particular. (The argument between Corin and Touchstone
in Scene 3.1 is a good example of the ongoing Renaissance arguments about whether court or country life was preferable.)
As in many of Shakespeare’s comedies, the main characters escape the world of the court for a time into a sort of fairyland
where they can find their true natures and work out their problems. In As You Like It, this idyllic spot is the forest of Arden,
a perfect or “Arcadian” place. Here, the characters are freed from the burdens of power and of identity, and can remake
themselves and their relationships as they please, surrounded by the “simple” shepherds and shepherdesses who make the
forest their home.
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Did You Know?
As You Like It is generally agreed to be the play that opened the new Globe Theatre in 1599.
The fact that As You Like It, along with three other plays of the period, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Much Ado About Nothing
and Twelfth Night, all have female leading parts of a similar and challenging type suggests that Shakespeare had in mind a
particularly talented boy actor to play them.
It is traditionally thought that Shakespeare himself acted the role of Adam.
Shakespeare’s works as a whole are 65% blank verse, 10% rhyming verse, and 25% prose. As well it is estimated that
Shakespeare coined ONE THIRD of the words he used. We think he was the first to use the word ‘pity.’ He created ‘puppydog’ and ‘leap frog.’ Other words accredited to Shakespeare are, “excitement, disgrace, gloomy, deafening.” He created such
expressions as “Break the ice”, “in a pickle”, “lie low”, “full circle”, “good riddance”, “dead as a doornail,” “give the devil his due,”
… and many more! While the average person’s vocabulary is about 10,000 words, Shakespeare used more than 29,000 in
his writing!
In Romeo and Juliet the prologue mentions “This two hour traffic.” Plays in Elizabethan England were presented at 2 in the
afternoon so that they could take advantage of the sunlight. There was a law plays could not last over 2 hours to ensure
that the audience would return to work. This meant that the play was performed without intermission.
Have you ever wondered why a part in a play is called a role? If you think about the time, it wasn’t as though playwrights
could transpose 15 or 20 scripts to give to the actors etc. And to have them printed would be very expensive and equally
time consuming. Also cutting down on the number of complete copies helped avoid plagiarism. There was usually only
one complete manuscript. Actors were given a “roll” of parchment that had only their lines and the three words before (their
cues). Thus, their roles! In order to keep up with the play there would be a summary of the play by scene so that the actors
could see what was next, etc.
“Groundlings” was the term given to the members of audience who stood on the ground (yard) in front of the stage. This
was the cheapest way to see a play. Contrary to what you may have heard it is very unlikely that the groundlings, or anyone
threw food at the actors and stage. The costumes were too elaborate and costly to allow that and the groundlings were too
poor to waste food.
Shakespeare died on April 23, 1616. 52 years to the day after it is assumed he was born. He was buried in Trinity Church
where he was baptized. Though it was customary to dig up the bones from previous graves to make room for others,
Shakespeare’s remains are still undisturbed, probably because on his grave this is inscribed.
“ Good friend, for Jesus’ sake forebeare
To digg the dust enclosed heare;
Bleste be the man that spares these stones,
And curst be he that moves my bones”