a word from our sponsors
See the new shakespeare.com. This feature, while it still provides useful information, is no longer maintained.
Replies | Post Reply | Shakespeare Queries From Genuinely Interested Students 4.2.97: Top | Help
For Arden's effects on the play's characters just look at what happens to each in the Forest. Orlando and Oliver are reunited and enter a new stage in their relationship, acting more like brothers and friends than they had before, putting their hatred and animosty aside. Oliver gives up his material possesions (which in reality are not his to give away any how) and decides that he will live for love. Orlando is willing to "court" Ganymede as Rosiland, no matter how odd it may appear. By their marriages in the end the two brother's role become reversed as well--by marrying Rosiland Orlando will become the next Duke placing him a position higher than Oliver, his older brother. The Duke Frederick, upon reaching only the edge of the Forest, is the most dramically changed. He desides to pursue a quiet life away as a churchman. In Arden the roles of Celia and Rosiland are reversed. In the court, where pusumably she is more comfortable, Celia controls the action. She speaks the most and it is her idea initially to travel to Arden when Rosiland is banished by the Duke. But, in Arden it is Rosiland who controls the action. It is her idea to have Orlando "woo" her and she arranges the marriage of Silvius and Pheobe. Because we never see Duke Senior in the Court, we do not really know how, if any, Arden changed him; but it is significant that while we hear of Duke F.'s transformation by the Forest, we never see him there. This stresses the fact that the two areas are distinct and separate.
I hope this is a help. For more info you might want to check The Shakespeare Theater's home page. They just finished a great production of "As You Like It" and if I remember correctly there was something about Arden in the program that might be on the home page.Posted by Kim P. on April 16, 1997 at 13:31:02
In Reply to "Need Help with As You Like It Essay" posted by Kelly on April 15, 1997 at 14:36:05
Replies | Post Reply | Shakespeare Queries From Genuinely Interested Students 4.2.97: Top | Help