Have you ever wondered what makes Shakespeare's comedies so timeless and relatable ? Let me know what you think in the comments below , as you Like . It is one of Shakespeare's most beloved comedies , and for a good reason .
With its witty dialogue , lovable characters and explorations of some of humanity's biggest questions , it's a play that continues to delight audiences to this day . Speaking of delight , I made a special quiz for you , so you'll have a chance to test yourself , and if you're ready , I am . So let's dive in , shall we ?
The central conflict of the play revolves around the term of love , with our protagonist Rosaline banished from court and forced to flee to the forest of Arden , where she disguises herself as a man to escape the waft of her evil uncle .
Meanwhile , orlando , the young man she loves , is also forced to flee to the forest , where he becomes embroiled in a complex web of relationships and identities . As the characters navigate the forest , they're forced to confront their own desires , identities and sense of self .
It's here that Shakespeare starts to explore some of the play's bigger themes , like the tension between court life and the natural world , and the ways in which love and identity can be both empowering and limiting .
Through Rosalind's disguise as Ganymede , shakespeare raises questions about the nature of gender and identity and the ways in which our societal expectations can shape who we are . Despite the complex themes , the play is ultimately a comedy , and Shakespeare uses the forest setting to create a sense of freedom and liberation .
As the characters shed their country roles and expectations , they're able to explore their true selves and find love in unexpected ways . Rosalind's journey is perhaps the most significant , as she navigates her own desires and sense of self through the relationship with Orlando , her cousin Celia and the shepherdess Phoebe .
Through her experiences , shakespeare highlights the ways in which love can be both empowering and limiting , and the ways in which women in particular are forced to navigate societal expectations .
In the forest , rosalind finds a sense of agency and freedom that she never could in the court , and it's here that she is able to reveal her true identity and create a new kind of relationship with Orlando . It's a pivotal moment in the play , and one that changes the dynamics of the relationship among the characters .
Rosalind's revolution marks a turning point in the play , after which the characters are forced to confront the reality of their relationship and identities . It's here that Shakespeare starts to tie up the loose ends and the play builds towards its joyful conclusion . As you Like , it is a play about the power of love and freedom to transform our lives .
Through the exploration of identity , desire and the contrast between court life and the natural world , shakespeare creates a rich and nuanced comedy that continues to delight audiences today . Now let's learn who is who . Orlando , this young Englishman , is noble and pure of heart .
His constant concern and care for Adam , the old family servant , immediately makes the audience esteem him . When he learns that his brother , oliver , is planning to kill him , he leaves home and goes to the Forest of Arden with old Adam . In the forest he attaches love poems addressed to Rosalind on all the trees .
Finally , he and Rosalind are united and wed Oliver . He is supposed to teach his younger brother , orlando , to be a gentleman , but he does not do so . He is a treacherous youth and tries to have Orlando killed . Orlando , however , saves him from being killed by a deadly snake and later from fierce lioness , and finally the two brothers are reconciled .
Oliver eventually falls in love with Celia Jacques Ewers Du Bois . Like Oliver and Orlando , he is one of the sons of the late Sir Roland Du Bois . He is favoured by Oliver over Orlando and he is sent away to school to learn how to be a proper gentleman .
At the end of the play , he appears on stage and announces that the corrupt Duke Frederick has been converted to a life of goodness by an old hermit , duke Frederick , the villain of this comedy . He banishes his elder brother and eventually he also exiles his brother's daughter , rosalind , from the palace .
Just before the play ends , he is converted by a religious hermit and henceforward he chooses to lead a monastic life in the forest of Arden . Rosalind she is the most realistic and sympathetic character in the play . She falls in love with Orlando and shortly thereafter is exiled from the Ducal Court by Frederick . She is accompanied by Celia and Touchstone .
She goes to the Forest of Arden disguised as a young man , Ginemate . Orlando is unaware that she is in reality his beloved Rosalind . Celia is Rosalind's cousin and closest friend . When Rosalind is exiled by Celia's father , celia accompanies Rosalind to the Forest of Arden .
Since Celia isn't in love at the time , her practical answers to Rosalind's worries about love help to explore the depth of Rosalind's love for Orlando . Now Celia goes to the forest disguised as a liena . Eventually she meets Orlando's brother , oliver , and falls in love with him . Touchstone , the cold clown , accompanies Rosalind and Celia to the forest of Arden .
There he falls in love with Audrey , a country woman . Touchstone is one of Shakespeare's greatest fools . Yet he is very realistic in his philosophy and he serves as a norm by which we can view the other characters . Jacque was the second Jacque was in this play . He is a man of the world , a free spirit .
In his travels he has affected continental mannerisms of speech and dress and he believes that his ideas are terribly profound when actually they are very shallow . Now Jacque is satirized by almost everyone with whom he holds deep discussions . Duke Senior , his joker rights are usurped and he is banished to the Forest of Arden by his younger brother , frederick .
Ultimately , his lands and his possessions are returned to him , adam . He is the boy's old family returner . He is dismissed by the nasty Oliver and later he relates to Orlando Corrine . In contrast to Silvius , corrine is a real shepherd . He is quite knowledgeable about sheep and their care . His lines serve as a contrast to the country wit of Touchstone .
He also serves as a contrast to the pastoral lovers Silvius and Phoebe . Audrey , now , this simple country woman , along with William and Corinne , serves as a contrast to the town countess character . She has trouble expressing her thoughts and cannot fathom the weight of touchstone . But their love is so rapturous that eventually they are wed .
Silvius , this shepherd , represents the romantic lover in the pastoral genre of Elizabethan literature . He loves the shepherdess Phoebe , but she constantly rejects him . Despite this fact , however , he pines for her throughout the play and constantly threatens suicide if his love remains unrequired . Unlike Corinne , he knows absolutely nothing about sheep .
Let's move on to Phoebe . Phoebe , as a pastoral girl who is the beloved of Silvius , she is a stock figure of this type of romance , that is , she rejects the advances of Silvius while he suffers from the woes of love's sickness . Surprisingly , she falls wildly in love with Ganymede , which is Rosalind in disguise . Yet finally she weds Silvius . William .
He is a stock country character who serves as a contrast to the pastoral lovers Silvius and Phoebe , and also as a contrast to the town characters . Amunus , a lord attending Duke Senior . He has a light , delightful role , and in this role he sings some of the most beautiful lyrics that Shakespeare ever wrote Le Bois . He represents the man about town .
He speaks well but knows little , and his speech , his dress and his mannerisms are all satirised in the play . Charles , a professional wrestler whom Oliver tells to kill , or at least maim Orlando . Ironically , orlando wins the match . Sir Oliver Martex , this vicar is not too knowledgeable .
He almost joins Touchstone and Audrey in wedlock , but Touchstone is dissuaded at the last moment by Jaccus Haman . The god of marriage appears in the final scene of the play to lead the mosque and to give dignity to the subsequent marriage ceremony . And at last we have Dennis , a servant to Oliver the boys .
Okay , guys , you have reached the part where you can test your knowledge and let's see if you are ready for your next English literature exam . Let me know how it went . Thank , you , and that's it for today . Another look in the St English Lessons literature video on Shakespeare's work as you like it , and I hope you liked it .
Anyway , if you have favourite moments from this play , please share it in the comments below . And if you want to continue exploring William Shakespeare's incredible work , you can check out on this video and I'll see you next time . Bye bye .