Shakespeares: As you like it - Essay Example

Shakespeare’s “AS you like it” Introduction As You Like it is one of Shakespeare’s earlier works that was first published between 1598 and 1599. It is a romantic comedy that is well known to Elizabethan audiences as an exemplar of “Christian” comedy. This play contains offstage spiritual conversations; however, the “Christian” designation in it does not refer to the religion itself. The offstage spiritual conversations are meant to depict regeneration and restoration of the society through the affirmation of some Christian values like marital union, tolerance for different perspectives, optimism about life, and brotherly love. Shakespeare organized this play as a simple, diverting comedy, since several scenes in this play are made up of joking banter and songs. However, the author uses his characters to discuss some of the core topics such as love, death, natural world and aging, from his point of view. The focus of this play is to represent a chronically melancholy pessimist who is preoccupied with negative thoughts about life, and a Christian heroine, Rosalind, who has accepted life’s difficulties, but she still chooses to be happy, kind, wise and playful (BiblioBazaar & Shakespeare 43). This article provides an analysis of some of the settings and symbolisms used in this play, so as provide an understanding of how stylistic devices are used in writing plays. Settings The Court The setting of this play begins at the French court, but later goes down in the Forest of Arden. It is, therefore, necessary to note that the court and the Forest of Arden are the key settings of the play. All the scenes of Act 1 are happening in the court. At the court, treachery and backstabbing are the names of the game (BiblioBazaar & Shakespeare 11). This court is where Oliver supported a professional boxer to break his brother’s neck, and where scheming Duke Frederick reclaimed Duke Senior’s title. In the play, Shakespeare describes bone-crashing and neck-snapping scenes in a more amusing manner that adds humor to the play. The Forest of Aden Act two and the following acts are happening in the Forest of Arden. This forest is fully occupied by shepherds living ordinary and simple lives; therefore, this setting is regarded as a “pastoralist” setting. The name “Aden” in this play has several meanings. In France, there is an old forest known as “Ardenne,” that is likened to Forest Aden of the play. This gives Aden a sense of meaning since the play also takes place in France. The author of the play believed that English audience of the 16th Century seemed to like the French Forest of “Ardenne,” since it appeared as an exotic, dreamy place with tale qualities (BiblioBazaar & Shakespeare 69). In addition, there was also a “Forest of Aden” near Shakespeare’s home town of Warwickshire, and this might have also facilitated the audience to liken the forest in As You Like it with good old England. Finally, the word “Aden” is also believed to have been formed from two words; Arcadia (is a Classical Greek mythology meaning earthly paradise), and Eden (the biblical paradise). This, therefore, means that audience associates “Aden” in the play’s setting with England, France, Arcadia, and Eden. The places to which the Forest of Aden in the play is associated with are believed to be paradises. We, therefore, expect Aden to be a paradise too. However, Aden’s physical and economic conditions do not make it qualify as a paradise. This is because it is windy, cold, and harboring by dangerous animals such as mama lion, which nearly killed Orlando (BiblioBazaar & Shakespeare 69). In addition, the only economic activity taking place in this forest is taking care of sheep. This is not an attractive job, as Old Corin in the play reminds the audience that “taking care of smelly, “greasy” sheep in no Picnic” (BiblioBazaar & Shakespeare 97). Then, what makes this Place be perceived as a paradise? According to Duke Senior, the prevailing physical and economic conditions in Aden are harsh, but this is not an issue, because it is far much better than the treacherous and fake court (BiblioBazaar & Shakespeare 106). Symbolism The Slain Deer In Act five, scene two, Lords in Duke Senior’s party together with Jaques kill a deer. Jaques then proposes to honor the hunter by placing the dead deer’s horns upon his head as a sign of victory (BiblioBazaar & Shakespeare 84). However, according to Elizabethan audiences, the slain deer symbolizes something that is just more than mere accomplishment. This because, the song that follows when the lord returns to camp, clearly depicts the deer placed on the hunter’s head as a symbol of cuckolded, which is usually represented by a man with horns on his head (BiblioBazaar & Shakespeare 89). The symbol of cuckolded man is described throughout the play, betraying one of the old, dominant anxieties that women are sexually uncontrollable, and pointing out the differences between imperfect and ideal love. Wrestling In Act one, scene two, during the big wrestling scene, Orlando wrestles with Charles but they later cannot resist the urge to turn this game into a metaphor for romance (BiblioBazaar & Shakespeare 37). Rosalind praises Orlando for wrestling well more than his enemies, but later tells him “I have a crash on you” (BiblioBazaar & Shakespeare 51). In the following lines, Orlando talks to himself “O poor Orlando! You have been overthrown” (BiblioBazaar & Shakespeare 65). It is obvious from these lines that Orlando has been defeated by love. Falling in love with a crush, especially for the first time, is usually exciting, but the emotions involved are painful and dramatic just like a wrestling match. Orlando’s Poems Orlando in the forest of Aden nails poems on the trees as a statement to his love for Rosalind. He compares Rosalind to the romantic heroines of Classical literature such as Cleopatra, Helen, and Lucretia, and this makes him be grouped under poets who perceive the love object as part of earthbound perfection (BiblioBazaar & Shakespeare 76). In the play, Orlando’s plans are less accomplished as compared to Ovid, because of the silliness to which all lovers are guilty. Orlando’s tedious love symbolizes the differences that exist between the fancies of literature love, and that which exists in the real world. Conclusion Shakespeare uses two contrasting settings, to amusingly reveal to his audience how people have different feelings and attitudes towards other things within their environment. The first Acts are happening in the court, which is physically better than Forest Aden. The second and subsequent Acts are happening in the Forest of Aden, which is windy and manifested by dangerous animals. However, characters like Duke senior perceive Aden as a paradise as compared to the Court, which is treacherous and fake. This implies that people living in Aden have accepted difficult situations in their lives, but they still smile, joke, and above all, wiser than dangerous pessimists who live in the court. Symbolisms are used in artistic works like the play, to make it more realistic to the audience. In addition, they enhance better understanding of the play. Works Cited BiblioBazaar, Shakespeare W. As You Like It: A Pleasant Comedy. Charleston: BiblioBazaar, 2010. Print Read More