Book Review: As You Like It | William Shakespeare
'As You Like It' is a romantic comedy that explores love, identity, and human relationships in a pastoral setting.
As You Like It, one of William Shakespeare's most beloved comedies stands out for its exploration of love, identity, and pastoral life. Written between 1599 and 1600, the play presents a lighthearted yet insightful look into human nature through the lives of exiled nobles, mistaken identities, and complex romantic entanglements. Set in the idyllic Forest of Arden, the characters navigate themes of freedom, social conventions, and the contradictions of love in a world where gender, status, and identity become fluid.
- Name of the Book: As You Like It
- Written by: William Shakespeare
- Themes: Complexity of Love, Gender Identity and Disguise, Pastoral v. Court Life, Forgiveness and Reconciliation, The Nature of Human Life
- Buy it on Amazon Here: As You Like It
Plot Summary
The story begins in the court of Duke Frederick, where his niece, Rosalind, and daughter, Celia, reside. Duke Frederick has usurped the throne from his brother, Duke Senior, who now lives in exile in the Forest of Arden. Rosalind, the daughter of Duke Senior, soon finds herself banished as well and flees to the forest with Celia and the court fool, Touchstone. To ensure their safety, Rosalind disguises herself as a young man named Ganymede, while Celia adopts the persona of Aliena, a shepherdess.
In the Forest of Arden, a web of romantic entanglements unfolds. Rosalind, disguised as Ganymede, encounters Orlando, the man she loves. Orlando, also exiled to the forest, is unaware of her true identity, leading to a playful exchange in which Ganymede (Rosalind) promises to cure Orlando of his lovesickness by pretending to be Rosalind.
The story reaches its climax with a series of revelations and reconciliations, culminating in multiple marriages, including that of Rosalind and Orlando. Duke Senior is restored to his rightful place, and the play ends on a note of harmony and festivity.
Major Themes
1. The Complexity of Love
Love, in all its forms, dominates the narrative of As You Like It. Shakespeare skillfully illustrates the different faces of love through various relationships, from the romantic idealism of Rosalind and Orlando to the more cynical view of love offered by Touchstone’s interactions with Audrey. The play questions the conventions and contradictions of love, often veering between mockery and earnestness.
Orlando’s romanticized love for Rosalind—symbolized through his clumsy love poems hung on trees—contrasts with Rosalind’s practical, rational view of love, especially when she is in her Ganymede guise. Rosalind, who is arguably the most insightful character in the play, uses her disguise to both experience and critique the follies of love. Shakespeare, thus, presents love as multifaceted: impulsive, idealized, transformative, and often comically misunderstood.
2. Gender Identity and Fluidity
The disguise plot in As You Like It is central to the play’s exploration of gender and identity. Rosalind's transformation into Ganymede allows her to transcend the limitations placed on women in Elizabethan society, providing her with a unique freedom to act outside of social conventions. As Ganymede, Rosalind adopts a traditionally masculine role, giving advice on love and orchestrating her own romantic destiny. The fluidity of gender and identity is one of the play's most forward-thinking aspects, challenging norms about gender roles and the performance of identity.
The legal aspect of gender identity, particularly the use of disguise to manipulate the law and social rules, offers an interesting point of discussion. Rosalind's freedom as Ganymede allows her to bend the rules, highlighting the contrast between the rigid structures of the court and the liberated, flexible world of the forest.
3. Pastoral Life v. Court Life
The pastoral setting of the Forest of Arden plays a vital role in the play’s commentary on social structures and personal freedom. Shakespeare contrasts the corruption and intrigue of court life with the simplicity and freedom of the forest. While life in the forest appears idealized and utopian, it is also marked by hardship and the need for self-sufficiency. The characters’ escape to the forest allows them to strip away the superficiality of court life and explore their true selves.
However, Shakespeare avoids an overly romanticized portrayal of the pastoral world. Characters like Jaques remind the audience of the darker aspects of rural life, constantly brooding and delivering melancholic soliloquies, such as the famous "All the world’s a stage" speech. This tension between the ideal and the real creates a nuanced view of the pastoral world, suggesting that neither court nor forest life is inherently perfect.
4. Law and Order: The Forest as a Space of Liberty
The Forest of Arden, in many ways, operates as a legal and social blank slate. In contrast to the court, where laws, power, and hierarchy reign supreme, the forest allows characters to navigate their lives freely, outside the reach of structured law. This reflects the pastoral tradition, where the natural world often serves as a space for rejuvenation and moral clarity.
From a legal perspective, the forest can be seen as a space where traditional legal norms are suspended, allowing for personal transformation and reconciliation. By placing the resolution of conflicts in a space devoid of rigid laws, Shakespeare suggests that true justice and resolution often arise outside the confines of formalized structures.
Characters
1. Rosalind (Ganymede)
2. Orlando
3. Jaques
4. Touchstone
Literary Devices and Style
Shakespeare employs various literary devices in As You Like It, including wordplay, irony, and metaphor, to enhance the themes and character interactions. The witty banter between characters, particularly Rosalind and Orlando, is filled with puns and double entendres, creating a playful and intellectually stimulating atmosphere. The use of disguise and mistaken identity is a common Shakespearean trope, but in As You Like It, it takes on added significance as a means of exploring gender roles and the fluidity of identity.
The play’s pastoral setting also allows for rich symbolism, with the forest representing both a literal and figurative space for transformation. Shakespeare's use of song and verse further elevates the play's lyrical quality, adding to its whimsical and romantic tone.
Conclusion
As You Like It remains a timeless exploration of love, identity, and society. Shakespeare’s ability to weave together themes of romance, gender fluidity, and social critique within a comedic framework is a testament to his genius. For a modern audience, the play’s themes of identity and freedom resonate strongly, particularly in discussions surrounding gender and social roles. Shakespeare’s pastoral comedy, with its nuanced characters and thought-provoking themes, continues to captivate readers and theatregoers alike.
As You Like It is a play that celebrates the complexity of human relationships while offering a lighthearted escape into a world where the rules of society are suspended, and love and identity can be freely explored.