Themes: Entertainment and Goodwill

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At the conclusion of As You Like It, Rosalind remains on stage to end the play with a standard epilogue. After acknowledging that it is unusual to assign the epilogue to a female character, she sends the audience home with the words, "My way is to conjure you and I begin with the women. I charge you, O women, for the love you bear to men, to like as much of the play as please you; and I charge you, O men, for the love you bear to women … that between you and the women the play may please" (V.iv). This upbeat but very slight final word is consistent with Shakespeare's primary purpose in As You Like It: to entertain his audience. Filled with skits, songs, and superfluous side stories (the love affairs between Touchstone and Audrey and between Silvius and Phebe) and featuring many exchanges of comic wordplay, As You Like It does not have any dominant theme or message to convey beyond goodwill to all and tolerance toward each. There is, however, a particular point of view that is brought to bear on the subjects that arise in its course (love, aging, time, nature, and the like). That perspective or worldview is brought to the fore in the person of Rosalind (as both a woman and a man) and contrasted with the dour outlook of Jaques.

Expert Q&A

What is the role of humour in As You Like It, specifically regarding Jaques and Touchstone?

Jaques and Touchstone are very different in their approach to humour. Jaques is a cynic and uses his humour to point out the faults of others, whereas Touchstone is an entertainer who can make jokes about almost anything. They both provide comic relief for the audience though, when Jaques is being mocked by other characters and he shows his temper by being angry about it—Touchstone does not usually show emotion, even when he is insulted.

How is Rosalind and Celia's friendship in As You Like It an example of perfect friendship?

Celia's loyalty and honesty are just two of the many examples of why their friendship can be seen as the perfect friendship.

Themes and Romantic Comedy Elements in As You Like It

As You Like It by Shakespeare is infused with romantic comedy elements and themes that include love, nature, and the transformative power of the forest setting. Key comedic scenes involve misunderstandings and disguises, such as Rosalind's disguise as Ganymede, which leads to humorous romantic entanglements. The play features young lovers overcoming obstacles, multiple intertwined plots, and a happy resolution with marriages. Themes of freedom, simplicity, and the triumph of good over evil are explored, alongside the escapism and adventure offered by the Forest of Arden.

Discuss why As You Like It could be considered a romance incarnate.

As You Like It is considered "romance incarnate" due to its diverse exploration of romantic themes. It portrays unrequited love, as seen with Corin and Phebe, misdirected love based on appearances with Phebe and "Ganymede," and unlikely pairings like Touchstone and Audrey. The play also features desperate love, exemplified by Orlando's actions for Rosalind, love at first sight with Oliver and Celia, and Duke Frederick's spiritual transformation.

The significance of Amiens' song in As You Like It

Amiens' song in As You Like It highlights the contrast between the corrupt court life and the idealized, simpler life in the Forest of Arden. The song underscores themes of pastoral life, contentment, and the natural world's restorative powers, reflecting the play's broader exploration of human nature and happiness.

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