Commentary on as You Like It by William Shakespeare

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Commentary on As You Like it by William Shakespeare As You Like It is a pastoral comedy by William Shakespeare. The play follows heroine Rosalind as she flees persecution in her uncle's court, accompanied by her cousin Celia to locate safety and, ultimately, love, in the Forest of Arden. In the forest, they discover a various amount of unforgettable characters, the most noteworthy being the downhearted traveller Jaques who speaks many of Shakespeare's most famous speeches (such as "All the world's a stage" and "A fool! A fool! I met a fool in the forest"). Jaques provides a sharp contrast to the other characters in the play, always observing and disputing the hardships of life in the country. The play has many themes and these include: * Love which is the central theme following the tradition of a romantic comedy * Usurpation and injustice which is also a significant theme of the play * Forgiveness: the play ends happily with reconciliation and forgiveness * Court life and Country Life: Most of the play is a celebration of life in the country The main characters are: Main Characters: The Court of Duke Frederick: * Duke Frederick, Duke Senior's younger brother and his usurper, also Celia's father * Rosalind, Duke Senior's daughter * Celia, Duke Frederick's daughter and Rosalind's cousin * Touchstone, a court fool * Le Beau, a courtier * Charles, a wrestler * Lords and ladies in Duke Frederick's court The Household of the deceased Sir Rowland de Boys: * Oliver de Boys, the eldest son and heir * Jacques de Boys, the second son * Orlando de Boys, the youngest son * Adam, a faithful old servant who follows Orlando into exile * Dennis, Oliver's servant who called Charles The Exiled Court of Duke Senior in the Forest of Arden: * Duke Senior, Duke Frederick's older brother and Rosalind's father *
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