Another closely related dichotomy to the contrast between court life and the Forest of Arden is the opposition between fortune and nature. "Fortune" signifies both material wealth—attained through power, inheritance, or ownership—and an unpredictable force that randomly influences events. On the other hand, "Nature" embodies both the cleansing spirit of Arden and the fundamental human condition, devoid of wealth, authority, and material belongings. This opposition highlights the larger theme of contradiction and conflict in As You Like It.