LRJ's for As You Like It

Julian Teeple
Ms. Peifer
English 10IB
March 16, 2009
LRJs for As You Like It
Orlando from the get go is set as the leading male role in the play As You Like It written by William Shakespeare. He is upset at his brother for not giving him a gentleman’s education, and as such, deeply resents him. One can infer that the story takes place in England, as a Forest of the same sort is found in the area of Shakespeare’s home town. The Dukedom, or sort of principality that the first act of the story takes place is thought to be in about the same geographical location. However Orlando is living on the land owned by his father, and his brother inherited, and as such has no intent on letting Orlando have anything. Having the first act take place in the confines of his brothers land sets up the reader to believe Orlando more then his brother, and certainly to feel some sympathy for his noble quest.
Orlando’s true goal in the first act is to convince his brother to give him a gentleman’s education, however he gets side tracked. He is sent to a wrestling match with someone who is known to inflict serious pain on those he wrestles, and yet he goes anyway. There he meets the daughter of the duke, and immediately falls in love. He then realizes his true goal is to show Rosalind his love, and hopefully win her heart as well. To try to win her over, he wins the match, but this causes his exile, and the former Duke’s aswell. Over all, Orlando only has strong ties to Rosalind, as he has only interacted with his brother, who he detests.
#2
After exile, Orlando finds himself in much peril. Duke Frederick, father to Celia, suspects Orlando of kidnapping her, and as such orders guards and men to find him, so they can bring him back and try him in court. Upon hearing this, Orlando’s own brother sets off in his own search to find, and then kill him. At this point, he has escaped to the forest of Arden, and is running from both the court system and his brother. A servant loyal to their father comes after Orlando, telling him of the plot against his life. Being in the Forest is important because it would make him hard to find by both his brother, and the guards, and is sort of a traditional runaway esque scene.
At this point in the play, Orlando is simply trying to escape with his life, and get use to country life, all the while looking for Rosalind and trying to keep what courtier manners and charm he possessed. He and the servant Adam travel through the countryside together, until at a point, they become almost starved, and Orlando has to leave him to find food. He meets up with the banished Duke, in itself a large feat as the Forest is a big place. The relationship between Orlando and Adam is portrayed by the way Orlando goes back for him even after they are near starvation. Also, Duke senior and Orlando have a bond almost by association, as they are both banished, and as such, share and take care of one another for a time. Orlando still has feelings for Rosalind, however he seems to set her on hold, for the more pressing issue of escaping with his life.




#3
Orlando is safely hidden in the Forest, and his brother is currently in trouble. The current Duke gives Oliver one year to find and seize Orlando, and in the mean time, the Duke will control his land, all a plot that has nothing to do with Orlando other then his brother will be looking harder for him. Orlando has returned to his love struck state. He has decided to begin hanging poems and carvings on trees professing his love of Rosalind. Rosalind and Celia find the poems and then search out Orlando, and disguise themselves to see if they can cure him of his love.
The poems were hung in the Forest of Arden, an important setting as it provides a lot of anonymity to Orlando, as there could be many Rosalinds. Were he still in the Dukedom, he would be found out, and most everyone else would pin it on Orlando, and Rosalind’s father may not take kindly to the words he wrote. At the same time, he also is not given the sort of attention he wants, as he could possibly want all to see his love of Rosalind.
Obviously showing he loves Rosalind has become his main goal, and as such he has devoted much time to doing so. Rosalind in disguise sets off to try and “cure” him, where she is truly wanting to spend time with him, and have him treat her in a loving manner, only to see if he truly does love Rosalind, or if it is just youthful lust. To show that he loves Rosalind, Orlando plays the game, talking to the “man” as if he were his Rosalind and being generally sweet to her.
Orlando seems almost cut off from most other characters at this point in the show. He seems to like Ganymede, however he does not like his meeting with Jaques, the depressed ex-courtier, saying he desired to be better strangers.
#4
Orlando has almost married his one and true love, yet he doesn’t even know it. The opening of act 4 has Ganymede and Orlando going through a fake wedding, giving Orlando a chance to respond the way he would were he marrying Rosalind. Unannounced to him, he technically is marrying Rosalind. Celia conducts the ceremony.
Still in the Forest, it has proved to serve them well. Orlando has been able to live his life fairly undisturbed, and his brother nor the court have found him yet to kill him. He has also been able to secretly spend time with Ganymede, or Rosalind, without bringing alarm or causing trouble. Although he may not realize it, he has got a fairly good life. The Forest and its magic also seems to help in a more life threatening situation. Orlando’s brother, Oliver, has wandered into the Forest looking for Orlando. He has fallen ill, and Orlando sees this. A lion has been preying on Oliver, however out of the kindness of his heart, Orlando saves his brother, even though he was going to kill him. His brother is even grateful for the rescue, and talks well of Orlando’s deeds to Ganymede.
Orlando is still trying to win Rosalinds heart, however he doesn’t know it. He is also trying to preserve his honor and gain the gentleman education, a reoccurring theme in the play.
Orlando’s relationship with Oliver improves dramatically when he saves his brother from the lion. Oliver sees the error of his ways and is wholehearted thankful for his brother.


#5
At the beginning of act 5, Orlando finds himself a very sad man. His brother, Oliver, has fallen in love with Celia, and they plan to marry as soon as possible. However, Orlando and his love interest are still not to be wed, and he hasn’t even talked to her since they were banished (or so he thought). Ganymede promises him that if he truly does love Rosalind, then he will marry her. Ganymede says that through his magic, he can bring Rosalind to the wedding.
The Forest is said to have magical powers, so it makes sense for Ganymede to play on this idea by saying he can use magic to bring Rosalind to the wedding. Were this scene to take place in any other setting, the effect would not be that of a supernatural setting, but of either a dumb lover (Orlando) or a slightly more magical Ganymede. This idea of the magic of the Forest fits the scene, and is important to the growing drama.
Orlando wants more then ever to be married to his one and true love, Rosalind. He is still set on having her hand, and being with her forever. Nothing Ganymede has done has truly cured him of his love, and it has only made him pine for Rosalind that much more. Orlando finally gets his wish in the end of the show, where he is married to Rosalind. The Duke Frederick, the one who stole power, has even given up the throne, making a happy ending.
Orlando at the start of the wedding would feel contempt toward his brother, as his love is there, but Rosalind is not. He later forgives everyone, and proves he is a gentleman after all.