The play “As You Like It” is built on contrast and parallelism, so to say the as you like it plot summary, episodes, and character of as you like it are sharply contrasted with each other. The contrast and parallelism add variety, charms, and attraction to the play. In fact, the play represents Shakespeare's art of comic just apposition at its subtlest.
The relation between Duke Senior (duke senior as you like it) and Duke Frederick is parallel to the relation between Oliver and Orlando. We notice in the play how Duke Frederick takes advantage of his brother’s nobility and simplicity and how he is ousted and banished. Likewise, Oliver, the eldest-so of Sir Rowland de The boy is envious of his brother, Orlando, and deprives him of all his rights and dues. Oliver can’t tolerate the good qualities of Orlando and even he hatches a conspiracy to murder him. Greed for power leads Duke Frederick to snatch power and Oliver’s jealousy governed him to behave ill towards Orlando.
list or name of greek and roman gods and goddesses
significance/role of the forest of Arden in as you like it
The court life
is contrasting to the natural atmosphere of Arden Forest. The court life is
full of enmity, malice, jealousy, and hypocrisy. On the other hand, the forest
life is full of and fellow-feelings, friendship, love, and contentment. Court
life is a place where rivalry and hostility are very common. On the other hand,
the forest dwellers with all their adversities enjoy peace of mind. Apart from
natural calamities like chilly winter and rough weather, the forest life is
free from envy, antagonism, meanness, and selfishness of court life. In one
sense the forest life appears wholesome and worth living because of its
aloofness from the venomous pangs of human society. Under the guise of
civilization, one conspires against the other. The hardship of nature is rather
preferable to the evil nature of human beings in society. The issues of
hostility as we find in the court of Duke Frederick are absent from the Forest of Arden.
forest of Arden Shakespeare as you like it
The Arden forest
brings about a positive and beneficial effect n both Duke Frederick and Oliver
they turn into good men and this change occurs to them in a sudden and dramatic
manner. However, there is a difference in the ways in which they are converted. Duke Frederick is converted b a holy
man with his army to destroy Duke senior and his followers. He renounces the
world, returns the Dukedom to its rightful owner, and decides to live the life
of a saint in the forest. Oliver, on the other hand, is converted by the
nobility, generosity, and courage displayed by Orlando in saving his life. He
realises his wickedness and the two brothers are reconciled. But, like Duke Frederick,
he does not renounce the world.
greek and roman gods and goddesses
Rosalind-Orlando and Celia-Oliver in as you like it
Rosalind-Orlando and
Celia-Oliver pairs have similarities so far as their falling in love. They love each
other very passionately at first sight. But their love is also contrasted. AS
soon as Celia and Oliver fall in love, they become impatient to consummate
their love. They don’t care for wooing or love-making. There is hardly any gap
between their falling in love and marriage. On the other hand, Rosalind and
Orlando pass their time mostly in lovemaking. Their union is not as sudden as
that of Celia-Oliver's pair.
Phebe stands in sharp contrast to Audrey. Phebe is a country-maiden but she has considerable
physical charms. She is a typical country coquette. She is presented to us in
all her points of pride heartlessly behaving contemptuously to the humble advances of the
lovesick Silvius shows little love and resects to Silvius who loves her
ardently. On the other hand, Audrey is a humble Shakespeare, plain-looking and
awkward. She is a mare rustic, homely, and ill-favored. The courtly manners of
Touchstone attracted her rustic simplicity. In intelligence, she is no match for
him but in honesty, she is his superior, “Well I am not fair and therefore I
pray that goods make me honest.” Silvius loves Phebe wholeheartedly in spite
of her rude behavior. But Touchstone loves Audrey because she is ugly and
hopes to break the marriage bond at the earliest and hence he wishes that she
would be dishonest.
Blake is generally regarded as aprecursor of the English romantics
The character of the touchstone is contrasted with that of Jaques. As the professional jester, he is a privileged person enjoying unlimited freedom of speech and having the right to make ironical and satirical remarks about anybody and everybody. His remarks and comments are very much amusing. . Having the privilege to comment freely upon people without any restraints he attacks them with the weapon of his wit. He is a keen observer of people’s habits and behavioral and witty commentator who exposes the follies and absurdities of people to ridicule. He is always merry and jolly-minded. His attitude is practical and realistic.
On the other hand, Jaques is by nature a melancholy man and a cynical philosopher. He is averse to
looking at the bright side of life; it is his tendency and his habit to dwell upon
the negative side of life. His cynical outlook is also clearly reflected in his
famous speech about eh seven periods so man’s life.