Fortune serves a role in the play in as much as
desire for fortune drives the plot forward; however, once the
characters are in the Forest of Arden, fortune ceases to be of
significance.
The desire for fortune especially moves the plot forward by
being the driving force that sends the characters into
exile in the Forest of Arden. Duke Senior is driven
into exile because his brother Frederick is jealous of both his fortune and his
power as duke. In addition, Orlando is also driven into exile
in the forest because he was rightly jealous of the fortune his own brother
Oliver had that should have been distributed to Orlando based on their father's
will. Rightfully wanting what should be his, Orlando confronts Oliver who
happens to be denying Orlando his inheritance out of jealousy of his brother's
qualities. However, confronting Oliver only makes him angrier, angry to the
point that he threatens Orlando's life twice, driving him into the woods.
Hence, in both situations, the desire for fortune drives the plot forward by
sending both Duke Senior and Orlando into the woods.
However, the desire for fortune ceases to be an issue once in the
woods. For example, Duke Senior claims to be happier in the woods than
he was at court. Orlando even proclaims his love for Rosalind once in the
woods, and never does his lack of fortune come up as an impediment to his
ability to marry her. In addition, when Oliver becomes a changed man while in
the woods and falls in love with Celia as Aliena, Oliver says to Orlando that
her apparent "poverty" is not an issue (V.ii.6). But more interestingly, Oliver
even asks for Orlando's permission to marry her, promising that if Orlando
gives his consent, then Oliver will bequeath the whole of their father's estate
and fortune to Orlando, while Oliver remains with Aliena in the woods, living
in poverty as a shepherd in the woods, as we see in his lines:
[C]onsent with both that we may enjoy each other: it shall be to your good; for my father's house and all the revenue that was old Sir Rowland's will I estate upon you, and here live and die a shepherd. (V.ii.9-12)
Hence, we see that even for previously jealous and greedy Oliver, fortune is no longer an issue once in the forest, showing us that while fortune, or jealousy of fortune, helped to develop the plot, fortune ceases to be important once in the forest.
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