As You Like It by William Shakespeare Essays

As You Like It by William Shakespeare Essays As You Like It by William Shakespeare Essay As You Like It by William Shakespeare Essay Essay Topic: As You Like it A. The Forest of Arden at first glance, is a country life of arcadian contentment, rustic tranquility, a golden world in all its glory. A place to while away the hours like, the old Robin Hood of England. And so is portrayed and backed up with the seemingly content Duke Senior and his merry men. Duke Senior praises the effects of Arden on him stating its different virtues in the forms of a healer, a nurturer and a counselor. Its effects on the people who come from the court are drastic if not almost instantaneous and bring out some unique aspect of their personality which is not yet known. For Oliver and Duke Frederick, there is an almost impossible change for the better as Duke Frederick is converted both from enterprise and from the world. Furthermore the previously non-existent bond of brotherly love is created between Orlando and Oliver which in turn leads to Olivers conversion. In Rosalinds case, the Forest provides a source of unimaginable freedom to express herself without the barriers of court conventions (though this may be the result of the disguise alone). It is the place where she can love Orlando without the strict rules and regulations that governed her previous residence. Likewise Orlando is provided an escape from his brother oppression where he can leisurely convey his love for Rosalind. On the contrary, the Forest can divert from the pastoral convention as you peer into its harsh realities and its ill-effects on its limited population. Duke seniors opening speech was in reality an attempt to hearten his co-mates and brothers-in-exile. Although thinly veiled with heartening comments about the seasons icy fang as a counselor and the churlish chidings of the winters wind as a sweet use of adversity, it still remains that it is an icy fang and the winds do bite and blow upon his body. Although, the Forest of Arden does display salutary qualities when it comes to the characters outlooks and personalities, it is still a source of discomfort and physical pain, a barren desert. Another characteristic that is associated with Arden is its sense of camaraderie and of an egalitarian society. Where Duke Seniors court becomes a circle of brothers, where Oliver and Orlando become brothers once more, where Duke Frederick learns humility. But this is not completely so as we see an example of a cruelty and neglect in Corins master. Moreover Celia, a lively character in the opening act of the play progressively loses her energy as she loses her friend (Rosalind) to forest follies. The forest also comes across as primitive. This is proven by the venison of the forest. The poor dappled fools are subject to cruelty of the most primitive kind in their own dwellings. In conclusion, the Forest of Arden is in fact an ideal place for recuperation and introspection in the sense that many of the characters achieved transformations of sorts. However it is seen (with a few exceptions), that the characters of the play are unwilling to stay in the forest when presented with the alternative of the court. Therefore, the forest may be ideal, but is a short-lived idealness.