Isabelle 1.1
As You Like It begins with Orlando, the youngest son of Roland de
Bois, brother of the eldest son and recipient of their father’s inheritance,
complaining to his attendant named Adam. Orlando is angry about being left only
a thousand crowns (25,000 British pounds) and the promise of a good education
provided by his brother Oliver, the second part of which is not being
fulfilled. Their other brother, Jaques, is receiving a good education but Oliver
is forced to stay in the country. He goes as far to say that Oliver’s horses
are treated and trained much better than even he is. Oliver then enters the
scene where he asks what he is doing to which Orlando responds he has never
been taught to do anything. Oliver acts insulted by what Orlando says. Orlando
even acknowledges his older brother’s birthright but asserts that he, himself,
is also noble by birth. Oliver hits Orlando who then grabs onto his older
brother. Oliver accusingly call his brother a villain. Adam intervenes saying
for the sake of their father’s memory, they should make peace. Orlando reminds
his brother of his responsibility to provide an education for him as their
father intended and demands that he have this education or his part of the
inheritance to leave. Orlando exits the scene and Oliver proceeds to order the
same for their family’s loyal servant, Adam.
Oliver has his attendant find
Charles the wrestler to speak with him. Charles informs him that the old Duke
Senior has been banished by his younger brother, the new Duke Frederick. Some
loyal lords have followed him into exile, giving up their lands and money to
Frederick. They relocated to the Forest of Arden, living like Robin Hood once
did. However, Duke Senior’s daughter Rosalind has reminded at the court with
her dear cousin Celia, the daughter of Duke Frederick.
Charles goes on to warn Oliver
that Orlando is planning to compete in a fight against him. Charles fears
Orlando will consequently be injured due to his inexperience. Oliver says he
will try to convince his brother otherwise and promises to reward Charles for
telling him of this. After Charles exits, Oliver tells how he plans to get his
brother worked up to fight because of his hatred for him.
A lot of implications are made when
Charles relays “They say he is already in the Forest of Arden, and a many merry
men with him; and there they live like the old Robin Hood of England. They say
many young gentlemen flock to him every day and fleet the time carelessly, as
they did in the golden world” (1.1.100-104). Comparing a character and his
lifestyle to Robin Hood carries a lot of weight. Robin Hood’s notoriety was
well known by the audience then as it is now. Without having finished reading
the play, I am placing a lot of valor on the shoulders of Duke Senior as Robin
Hood was renowned as a hero. In the original folklore, Robin Hood was a
supporter of King Richard the Lionheart who was banished by his brother John.
This is similar to how Duke Frederick exiled his own brother, Duke Senior,
loyal lords following. This comparison to Robin Hood, is likely to foreshadow
Duke Senior completing some ploy to undermine those in power, some way or
another, to a greater extent than living with others of the resistance in the
woods.
Kayla 1.2
Act
one scene two is an incredibly dense section that essentially sets the stage
for the remaining plots of the play. In
this scene we see Rosalind and Celia display their adoration for each other as
they vow to remain true to one another, and Celia swears that when her father
Duke Fredrick passes on she will give the throne back to Rosalind. Despite her grief over her father Duke Senior
Rosalind is cheered by Celia’s promise and vows to be more content despite her
sorrow. To distract themselves the girls begin to debate the essence of Fortune
and Nature and how they determine women’s lives. Both seem to favor Nature over
fortune. A wrestling match is held within the castle and it is here that
Rosalind meets Orlando and they become smitten with one another. However true
love is deterred when after winning the wrestling match against Charles,
Orlando announces that he is the son of Sir Rowland one of Duke Fredrick’s
enemies. Duke Fredrick refuses to
congratulate him and very shortly after Orlando decides he must flee from the
duke.
This sets up not only one of the
main romantic plots of the play but it also demonstrates the very deep bond
Rosalind and Celia share which spurs many characters actions in this play. It
is also interesting how well a female friendship is displayed here. In most
Shakespearean plays the main females often only have deep meaningful
relationships with their male counterparts. Even in the twelfth night the main
interaction Oliva and Viola have with one another is when Viola is dressed as
Cesario and Olivia falls in love with her. Here Celia and Rosalind display a
deep true love that only the best of sisters have. Their relationship is also
one of the most integral facets of the play which I enjoy very much. The line
that I feel seems to capture this essence is this quote from Celia and Rosalind
when discussing Fortune and Nature. “CELIA Let us sit and mock the good
housewife Fortune from//her wheel, that her gifts may henceforth be bestowed
equally.
ROSALIND:
I would we could do so, for her benefits are/mightily misplaced, and the
bountiful blind woman/doth most mistake in her gifts to women.”
I
essentially feel that this quote kind of displays that while these women have
high statutes in the world and are otherwise fair and beautiful, both are
rather powerless in how their lives are led. Rosalind has been disinherited by
the banishment of her father and Celia must choose between her beloved cousin
and father, as he sets out to take away everything that was his brothers. Both
are at the mercy of fate at the moment but it doesn’t take them long to take
control of their own nature and destinies. Laura 1.3
Scene
1.3 demonstrates the strong relationship between Rosalind and her cousin Celia.
Rosalind, embarrassed and upset that Orlando had no reply to the gift of her
chain, is unusually quiet. Celia insists that Rosalind tell her what is the
matter, and asks if she is sad about her usurped and exiled father. Rosalind
replies that her dejected state is not for her father, but for the man she
would have as her child’s father, and compares her feelings for him to burrs
stuck in her heart, which she cannot shake away. Celia encourages Rosalind to
reign in her emotions, and asks whether it is possible for her to have fallen
in love with Orlando so suddenly. Rosalind explains that her own father dearly
loved Orlando’s father, but Celia refutes this explanation—her father hated
Orlando’s father, but that is not reason for her to hate Orlando. Rosalind
implores Celia not to hate Orlando, but to love him for her sake. Duke
Frederick, Celia’s father and Rosalind’s uncle, interrupts and demands that
Rosalind leave the court as quickly as possible. He warns her that after ten
days, if she is found within twenty miles, she will die for it. Rosalind asks
her uncle what crime she has committed, as she’s never so much as had a thought
which might have offended him. Duke Frederick replies that all traitors
proclaim their innocence, and that he simply does not trust her, and that is
all the reason he needs. Rosalind persists, saying that his mistrust does not
make her a traitor, and asks again of what she is accused. Duke Frederick
replies that it is because she is her father’s daughter. Rosalind says that
treason is not inherited, and even if it were, her father was not a traitor.
When Celia tries to protest, Duke Frederick hushes her and says that it was
only for her sake that Rosalind was not exiled with her father. Celia says that
isn’t true, that she did not ask that Rosalind stay; it was out of guilt that
he kept her at court. She says that if Rosalind is a traitor, then so is she.
They have grown up together and are inseparable. Duke Frederick remains
unmoved, however, calling Celia a fool and claiming that Rosalind is stealing
attention from her. Celia tells her father to banish her, too, as she cannot
live without Rosalind. Again her father calls her a fool, and he leaves, warning
Rosalind that she must leave before her time is up, or face death. Celia swears
to Rosalind that she will go with her, and suggests that they escape to the
Forest of Arden to find her uncle, Rosalind’s father. Rosalind worries for
their safety, so Celia suggests disguising themselves in dirty, plain clothes
to avoid attracting attention. Rosalind decides that because she is so tall, it
would be better for her to dress as a man. She decides that she will be called
Ganymede, and Celia decides that she will be called Aliena. Rosalind suggests
taking the court fool along with them, and Celia agrees to convince him to
come, and they resolve to collect their things and go.
In
lines 48-50 of this scene, Duke Frederick rejects Rosalind’s claim of
innocence, saying “If their purgation did consist in words,/They are as
innocent as grace itself./Let it suffice thee that I trust thee not.” He says
that all traitors proclaim their innocence, and if they could purge themselves
of their sins merely by their words, they would be wholly pure. Because words
alone cannot cleanse someone of his guilt, he does not trust Rosalind or her
profession of innocence. This is a haughty remark coming from a man who
betrayed his own brother and usurped his position. It would seem as though
Frederick is projecting some of his own guilt onto his niece; no matter how
much he might proclaim his own innocence, the betrayal of his brother still
weighs on him.
Abbey 2.1 and 2.2
Scene
one opens with Duke Senior, who we know has been exiled by his younger brother.
This scene takes place in the forest and is between Duke Senior, Amiens, the
First Lord, and the Second Lord. Duke Senior opens the scene by talking about
the forest. He is actually rather happy to be in the forest. He says the forest
is freeing, there is no envious court, life is pretty sweet. There is no danger
in the forest and says their only worry is the cold winter wind. He says the
forest provides everything they could ever need. He end ends his talking by
saying he wouldn't change a thing. Amiens then agrees with him talking about
how quiet and sweet their new life is. Duke Senior then suggests they go hunt
some venison, but there is a sadness behind it. He is mourning the death of the
deer. The First Lord seems to be comparing him (Duke Senior) to the deer, his
fortune has not been so great. He claims that Lord Jaques agrees with him.
Declaring that Senior is guiltier of taking someones power by killing this poor
deer, then his brother his for exiling him. This seems a little extreme. This
however doesn’t seem to get Duke Senior down. He requests that Jacque is brought
to him for he enjoys arguing with him. The First Lord says he shall go get him.
Scene two starts a little different.
We are back in the court with Duke Frederick, which is Duke Senior’s little
brother that exiled him. This is a brief scene, only 21 lines. This scene is
really about Duke Frederick discovering that Rosalind is gone, but Celia, and
Touchstone also seem to be missing with her. The First Lord is claiming no one
saw them leave. Lord Frederick is questioning how they could disappear without
anyone seeing them. The Second Lord comes in an states that it was overheard
that Celia and Rosalind were in favor of Orlando. The Second Lord then says
that where Celia and Rosalind are is probably where Orlando is as well. Duke
Frederick then asks that someone fetches Oliver for he is going to send Oliver
to search for his brother, Celia, and Rosalind.
Sweet
are the uses of adversity,
Which,
like the toad, ugly and venomous,
Wears
yet a precious jewel in his head (2.1.12-14)
I chose this set of lines because I feel
like this is actually a really good quote. While there are great uses to
adversity, which seems horrible like a toad, it is still a great thing.
Zeke 2.3 and 2.4
Orlando returns home after winning the fight against
Charles, the wrestler. His servant,
Adam, greets him and comments on his recent victory. Despite the good news, Adam is concerned that
his good qualities will be his undoing and tells Orlando that he recently
overheard Oliver plotting to burn him alive as he slept. Orlando is unsure where he should go if he
leaves his home and wonders if he is expected to beg for food or become a
thief. Adam offers to fund the trip with
the five hundred crowns he has saved over the course of his life. Not all does he do this, but Adam also asks
to go with him and continue on as a servant.
After a bit of convincing, Orlando agrees and compliments Adam’s sense
of duty. The scene ends with Adam
proclaiming:
Master, go on, and I will follow thee,
To the last gasp, with truth and loyalty.…
Yet fortune cannot recompense me better
Than to die well and not my master’s debtor.
(As You Like It 2.3.69-76)
This passage is an important one because honor is an
important theme throughout the play. Characters
take this belief very seriously and those that lack the quality appear to lash
out at those that do. This may explain
why by the play’s end, even Oliver and Duke Frederick have changed their ways
and embraced sanctimonious lifestyles.
Rosalind,
Celia, and Touchstone arrive in the Forest of Ardenne. In order to remain safe on their journey, the
woman have disguised themselves with dress.
Rosalind dresses like a young man and goes by the name of Ganymede while
Celia dresses as a shepherdess and uses the name Aliena. Exhausted from their travels, they decide to
rest but soon cross paths with Corin and Silvius. Wrapped up in discussing Silvius’ love for
Phoebe, the two men do not notice the three people resting nearby. Though Corin says he knows about love,
Silvius doubts that he has ever loved as deeply as he does for Phoebe. At this point, Silvius exits and Corin is
asked about a nearby location for them to find food and rest. Corin explains that his master’s house is for
sale and offers to take them there to check it out.
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