Overview
Synopsis
In one of Shakespeare’s most beloved romantic pastoral comedies, we follow the young heroine Rosalind from the court of her vindictive uncle, Duke Frederick, into the Eden-like Forest of Arden, where her banished father is living in exile. In order to avoid running into trouble, Rosalind disguises herself as a young man, “Ganymede,” and, accompanied by her faithful cousin Celia and the court clown, Touchstone, makes her way into the woods. She soon encounters the young, handsome Orlando, who is also fleeing from Duke Frederick’s court, and who is sick with love for Rosalind. Still disguised as Ganymede, Rosalind tests Orlando’s feelings for her and teaches him about the nature of true love; by the end of the play, four love matches have been made in the forest. As You Like It is an entertaining and touching exploration of life, death, love, family and the bonds that tie us together.
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Context
The dates of the writing and first performance of As You Like It are uncertain. Most scholars believe the play was written in 1599 (it was entered into the Stationer's Register in 1600), but perhaps not performed until several years later. The play was included in the 1623 First Folio. Shakespeare's inspiration came from Rosalynde, Euphues Golden Legacie, Thomas Lodge's adaptation of the medieval English romance "The Tale of Gamelyn." The story focuses on two brothers; Gamelyn struggles to
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Two royal brothers of French blood, Duke Frederick and Duke Senior have gotten into a serious fraternal spat. As a result, Frederick has usurped his elder brother’s throne and forced him to flee into the neighboring Forest of Arden, accompanied by only a few of his most loyal supporters. Rosalind, the banished Duke’s daughter, has been kept tenuously in Frederick’s court as a companion to her cousin Celia, Frederick’s daughter.
Meanwhile, another pair of brothers are experiencing similar
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Character Portrayals
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Monologues
Scenes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
THEMES
Romantic Love
In As You Like It, Shakespeare explores romantic love in its many forms—idealized, unrequited, pragmatic, and transformative—while gently satirizing the artificial conventions of Petrarchan and courtly love traditions. Orlando’s hyperbolic verses and Silvius’s suffering for Phoebe exemplify the foolish excesses of lovers who view love as torment or divine affliction, yet Rosalind (disguised as Ganymede) counters this with earthy realism, famously declaring, “Men
to read about the themes, symbols and motifs from As You Like It and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Key Terms
A recurring character type or symbol representing universal patterns in storytelling, often used in classical and contemporary theatre.
Relating to the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, marked by flourishing English drama and playwrights like Shakespeare and Marlowe.
Used in classical texts to describe beauty or fairness; also used in dialogue to suggest sincerity or justice.
A large format publication of plays, including the First Folio of Shakespeare, significant to theatre history.
A medieval and Renaissance symbol representing the unpredictable nature of fate. This term plays a vital role in understanding theatrical structure and is commonly encountered in stagecraft or performance settings.
An archaic or poetic word meaning 'from here' or 'as a result'; common in English Renaissance texts. This term plays a vital role in understanding theatrical structure and is commonly encountered in stagecraft or performance settings.
An old word meaning 'to this place,' frequently found in classical English drama. This term plays a vital role in understanding theatrical structure and is commonly encountered in stagecraft or performance settings.
A servant or deceitful man, often used in Shakespearean plays as a term of insult or social rank. This archetype is common in comedic and villainous roles in English Renaissance drama, revealing class tensions and dramatic contrasts.
A form of comedy set in rural, idealized landscapes, often exploring romantic entanglements and class differences. Common in English Renaissance drama.
A dramatic work that includes incidental music or songs, but is not classified as a full musical. Music supports mood and storytelling without dominating the narrative.
An archaic contraction of 'I pray thee,' used in English Renaissance plays to make polite requests or appeals. It conveys period formality and is frequently seen in Shakespearean dialogue.
Social or military status often referenced in historical or classical plays to define hierarchy and power dynamics among characters.
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