In As You Like It, numerous contrasts underscore Shakespeare's preference for the pastoral simplicity of the Arden Forest over the chaotic life at court. Duke Frederick's court is a place of disorder, primarily due to political corruption. Duke Frederick has unlawfully seized Duke Senior's domain, creating political unrest. This turmoil is compounded by personal strife, as the dukes, who are brothers, are in conflict. This tension is mirrored in the antagonistic relationship between another pair of brothers at court, Oliver and Orlando.

In sharp contrast, the Arden Forest represents a realm of pure, spiritual order. Although the journey to Arden is long and exhausting, with characters arriving physically worn out and hungry, the forest provides a transformative experience. The "icy fang" and "churlish wind" suggest life in Arden is challenging, yet these harsh conditions act as a cleansing force, revealing the virtues of characters hardened by court life. Some, like Orlando and Rosalind, need little change but find liberation from the oppression they faced at court. Others, such as Oliver and Duke Frederick, enter the forest with negative intentions only to undergo a profound spiritual transformation.

Thus, Arden symbolizes a morally pure environment with healing properties that cleanse and renew its inhabitants, providing them with the self-awareness needed to restore order at court.