“As You Like It “ : The Story in Brief

“As You Like It “ : The Story in Brief

Two Important Events

The play opens with two important events, one of which is presented directly to us while the other IS conveyed to us by the device of narration. Oliver and Orlando are the  eldest of the late Sir Rowland de Boys. These two brothers feel a deep dislike for each other. Orlando's reason for disliking Oliver is that Oliver has not implemented the terms of the late Sir Rowland's will, according to which Orlando was to receive a certain amount of money, and was also to be properly brought up and educated by Oliver. Orlando has therefore every reason to complain against the injustice done to him by Oliver. Oliver, on the other hand, dislikes Orlando without any reason. Oliver's dislike soon deepens into hatred when Orlando demands his rights. In fact, a violent quarrel takes place between the two brothers. An old servant of the family, by the name of Adam, intervenes in the quarrel, and appeals to both the brothers not to create an unpleasant situation. Soon afterwards, Oliver instigates a professional wrestler by the name of Charles, who is in the pay of Duke Frederick, to break Orlando's bones, and if possible, to kill him, in a wrestling match. All this is presented to us directly as an episode to be presented on the stage. But the other event is indirectly conveyed to us. This event has already taken place before the play begins. This event was a dispute between two other brothers, namely, Duke Frederick and Duke Senior. Duke Senior, the rightful ruler, was dislodged from his dukedom by his younger brother, Frederick, who then seized the dukedom and passed an order of banishment against his elder brother. Duke Senior, accompanied by a few loyal lords, left his dominions, and took refuge in the Forest of Arden. Thus, when the play opens, Duke Senior is reported to be living in exile in the Forest of Arden in the company of the few lords who voluntarily accompanied him into exile.

Orlando and Rosalind Fall in Love at First Sight

Rosalind, the daughter of the banished Duke, is feeling melancholy because of the banishment of her father, while Celia, the daughter of the present Duke (Frederick), tries to console her• Although Duke Senior had been banished, his daughter, Rosalind' was allowed by Duke Frederick to stay on at the court in order to keep company with his own daughter, Celia, who is deeply attached to Rosalind, and wh6 would not have been able to bear a separation from her. The two ladies now witness a wrestling match between Charles, the professional wrestler who is in the pay of Duke Frederick, and Orlando, the youngest son of the late Sir Rowland, and an amateur wrestler. All those who are present to witness the match, including Duke Frederick, Celia, and Rosalind, think that Charles would easily defeat Orlando and might even break Orlando's ribs. But everybody is surprised when, in a few moments, Orlando emerges as the winner, after having thrown Charles down to the ground with such force that Charles has fainted. Now Orlando expects a reward from Duke Frederick; but, when Duke Frederick comes to know that Orlando is the son of the late Sir Rowland de Boys, he becomes furious and leaves the venue of the wrestling match in a state of great anger, because Sir Rowland had during his life-time, been very intimate with Duke Senior, and had therefore been always regarded by Duke Frederick as his bitter enemy. Rosalind and Celia are, however, filled with admiration for Orlando; and, in fact, Rosalind falls instantly in love with him, as he too, feeling greatly attracted by Rosalind, falls in love with her at first sight.

A Decision By Celia and Rosalind to Flee to the Forest of Arden

In a private conversation, Rosalind now admits to Celia that she has fallen in love with Orlando. There is some very light-hearted conversation between the two cousins. Just at this moment Duke Frederick comes and abruptly passes an order of banishment against Rosalind, without any prior notice or warning. He merely says that he regards Rosalind as a traitor, and he tells his daughter Celia that Rosalind's continued presence at the court is very much against Celia's own interest. After Duke Frederick has gone, Celia tells Rosalind that she would also now quit her father's court and would stealthily go with Rosalind into exile. The two ladies decide to take Touchstone, the court-jester in the pay of Duke Frederick, with them into exile. Celia's suggestion is that they should go to the Forest of Arden and join Rosalind's father, the banished Duke, who is living there. Rosalind accepts the suggestion. It is also decided by the two ladies that Celia would disguise her identity by smearing her face with some kind of paint, while Rosalind would disguise herself as a man so as not to be recognized and not to attract attention.

 Orlando, Accompanied By Adam, Also Quits the City

  On returning home after the wrestling-match, Orlando learns from the servant Adam that Oliver has devised a plan to put an end to Orlando's life. Oliver's original plan to have Orlando killed by the wrestler Charles having miscarried. Oliver has now decided to set fire to the lodgings where Orlando is in the habit of sleeping, and thus to let Orlando be burnt to death during his sleep. Adam now urges Orlando not to stay in this house any longer. As Orlando is penniless and as there is no other place where he can go and live, Adam puts at Orlando's disposal an amount of five hundred crowns, which represents Adam's whole life's savings. Adam also puts himself at Orlando's disposal, saying that he would follow him to any place and serve him loyally till the end of his life. Orlando and Adam then decide to quit the city and go somewhere else. Having no exact destination, the two men drift into the Forest of Arden, whither Rosalind and Celia have also gone.

Jaques's Criticism of Duke Senior in the Forest of Arden

Duke Senior and a few loyal lords of his are living in the Forest of Arden in a state of perfect contentment. They have all become accustomed to the hardships of life; and Duke Senior expresses his state of mind in the following line: "Sweet are the uses of adversity" Among the lords attending upon Duke Senior is Jaques, a meditative kind of man, who, however, has a cynical outlook upon life. He is certainly attached to Duke Senior; but he often indulges in censuring Duke Senior's behaviour. For instance, Jaques criticizes Duke Senior for heartlessly and cruelly killing the deer in the forest to get their meat. In the opinion of Jaques, the deer are the natives of this forest and should not be wounded and killed by outsiders like Duke Senior and his lords.

Rosalind and Celia in the Forest of Arden in Disguise

Rosalind and Celia now arrive in the Forest of Arden. They have brought Touchstone with them. Rosalind is disguised as a young man under the name of Ganymede, while Celia has disguised her real identity as a princess by smearing her face with brown paint. Celia has given herself the name of Aliena. Rosalind, disguised as a man' pretends to be Aliena's brother. Finding that a rich shepherd in the Forest of Arden wishes to sell his flock of sheep and his sheep cottage, Rosalind and Celia decide to buy this estate and to settle down here. For the time being, they do not wish to contact Duke Senior and to disclose to him the fact that his daughter Rosalind and his niece Celia, have come here. Although Rosalind and Celia have now to face the hardships of a life in the forest, yet they give no indication at all of any bitterness in their heart, or any feeling of misery. They have lost none of their natural gaiety, and they have not lost their sense of humour either. There is a lot of exchange of witty remarks between Rosalind and Celia, and also between Rosalind and Touchstone who is professional fool or jester.

Oliver in Great Trouble

On coming to know that his daughter and his niece have stealthily fled from the palace, Duke Frederick flies into a rage. His courtiers tell him that the two ladies might have gone with young Orlando who had defeated the court wrestler Charles in the wrestling contest. Duke Frederick summons Orlando's brother Oliver, and asks him where Orlando is. When Oliver replies that he knows nothing regarding the whereabouts of Orlando, and that he had never entertained any feelings of love and affection for that brother of his. Duke Frederick becomes even more indignant and orders Oliver to produce his brother before him within a year or to face the consequences. At the same time, the Duke orders his officials to seize the entire property of Oliver and to turn him out of his palace. Now Oliver himself is in great trouble. His misdeeds have rebounded upon himself; and he now does not know what to do and where to go.

A Shepherd's Love for a Shepherdess

Rosalind, Celia, and Touchstone overhear a talk between an old shepherd, Corin, and a young shepherd, Silvius. Silvius speaks to Corin of his ardent love for a shepherdess by the name of Phebe who, however, does not respond to Silvius's love. Thus Silvius is a love-sick swain who is Pining for Phebe while Phebe has no feeling for him at all. On hearing this talk, Rosalind's thoughts go to the man with whom she had fallen in love.

Orlando and Adam, Received Hospitably By Duke Senior.

As already indicated, Orlando and Adam too have now arrived in the Forest of Arden. As the journey to the forest has been long and arduous. Adam, who is an old man of eighty, is feeling not only tired but extremely hungry. In fact, Adam has the feeling that he is about to die. Orlando tries to cheer him up; and tells him that he would go and find something for Adam to eat. Orlando then leaves Adam, and roams in the forest in search of some animal which he can hunt down in order to get its meat for Adam. Duke Senior and his friends have just sat down to their dinner, when Orlando bursts in upon them with his sword drawn, and demands food for the starving old man. Duke Senior tells him that there is no need for him to threaten them with his sword, and that he can bring the old man here so that he can be fed. Orlando feels very happy that there are some very kind-hearted people in the forest; and so he brings the starving Adam to this place where both he and Adam are properly fed. On learning that Orlando is the son of the late Sir Rowland. Duke Senior feels very happy because Sir Rowland had been a great friend of his. Orlando now becomes a member of Duke Senior's retinue.

Jaques's Encounter with Touchstone

Jaques, who is one of Duke Seniors companions in the forest happens to meet Touchstone who has come to the Forest of Arden in the company of Rosalind and Celia. Touchstone, being the courtjester, is wearing the professional fool's motley coat. Jaques finds Touchstone to be a very interesting fellow. Touchstone is at this time basking in the warm sunshine. Jaques addresses him as a fool, and wishes him a good morning, whereupon Touchstone says that he need not be called a fool till Lady Fortune has favoured him and made him rich. YVhat Touchstone here means to say is that Lady Fortune favors only the fools, and that therefore fools are to be found among rich and prosperous people only. Touchstone then pulls out his dial* from his bag and says that it is now ten o'clock, that an hour earlier it was nine o'clock, that an hour later it will be eleven o'clock, and that this is how time passes hour by hour, with the result that human beings grow older and older till they begin to rot. On hearing the fool Touchstone talk in this wise manner, Jaques bursts into a loud laugh, and keeps laughing for full one hour. On rejoining Duke Senior, Jaques tells him that he had met a "motley fool", a "worthy fool", a "noble fool" who had been a courtier at one time and who knows that, if ladies be young and fair, they have the gift to know this fact about themselves. Jaques then says that he too would like to wear a motley coat so that he too can enjoy unlimited freedom to talk, to point out the follies and vices of people, and thus to cure them of those follies and vices.

Orlando's Verses in Praise of Rosalind

Having plenty of leisure, Orlando spends much of his time in composing verses in praise of Rosalind with whom he had fallen in love. He goes about, carving the name of Rosalind on the bark Of trees, and pinning to the trees the verses which he has written in praise of his beloved. Orlando does not know, of course, about Rosalind's presence in the forest. Rosalind, on finding these verses pinned to the trees, all in praise of her beauty and virtue, feels surprised as to who could have written them. Celia too has found some verses pinned to the trees. Celia, having seen Orlando in the forest, tells Rosalind that these verses in praise of her beauty and A dial means a dial watch which indicates the hour of the day. virtue have been written by the man with whom she had fallen in love. Rosalind feels delighted and thrilled to learn that the man, with whom she had fallen in love, has also come to the Forest of Arden.  Soon Rosalind and Orlando come face to face, though Rosalind, being disguised as a man having the name of Ganymede, and being dressed in masculine clothes, is not recognized by Orlando. At the end of a long conversation between Rosalind and Orlando, it is decided, at Rosalind's suggestion, that Orlando would come daily and speak of his love for Rosalind. By this means, says Rosalind, she would cure Orlando of the madness of love as a result of which he has been writing endless verses in praise of his beloved. (It should not be forgotten that Rosalind is disguised as a man with the name of Ganymede). In the course of this conversation, Rosalind shows her brilliant wit by making many amusing remarks, so that we have here a rich mingling of romance and comedy. The comic aspect of this situation is conspicuous because Orlando does not know that, in talking to Ganymede, he is really talking to his own beloved Rosalind.

Touchstone in Corin's Company

Touchstone, being a professional fool or jester, makes jokes with everyone whom he meets. He finds a particular pleasure in his talk with Corin, the old shepherd, whom he treats as a complete simpleton. He tells Corin that, if Corin has never been at court, then Corin should think himself damned like an ill-roasted egg, all on one side. Then he addresses Corin "as a most shallow man". Touchstone also here tells Corin that he likes life in the forest for its many blessings but that at the same time he finds many of the advantages  of a court life absent from the forest.

An Encounter Between Jaques and Orlando

Orlando happens to meet Jaques in the forest, and an interesting conversation ensues between them. Orlando is a romantic lover, while Jaques is a cynical philosopher. The result is that neither of them is attracted by the other. At the end of this meeting, they both bid farewell to each other, saying that they would not like to meet again.

Touchstone in Love With Audrey, a Goat-Herd

Touchstone has met a goat-herd by the name of Audrey, and felt attracted by her. He thinks that it would be a good idea for him to marry the simple Audrey. Audrey gives her consent to his proposal of marriage. Touchstone arranges with a priest to come and perform the marriage ceremony in private. However, Jaques unexpectedly appears on the scene and prevails upon Touchstone to postpone the marriage till a better priest can be found to perform the ceremony. Jaques does not think that the priest procured by Touchstone is a competent man for the purpose. As already pointed out, Touchstone pokes fun at everybody whom he happens to meet. He does not even spare Audrey the woman whom he wishes to marry. He ridicules her, saying that she is a "foul slut". He also makes fun of the priest who had come to perform the marriage ceremony. Touchstone is a practical lover who treats marriage as a matter of convenience. He intends to abandon Audrey after marriage as soon as he becomes fed up with her.

The Silvius-Phebe-Ganymcde (Rosalind) Tangle

As already pointed out, Silvius, a shepherd, is in love with a shepherdess by the name of Phebe. Phebe, however, does not respond to his love. On one occasion, when he is pleading his love to her, she replies to his love-making rudely and arrogantly. Rosalind, who is disguised as a young man, has overheard the conversation between Silvius and Phebe. She steps forward and rebukes Phebe for speaking to her lover in a haughty and insulting manner. Phebe feels so impressed by the good looks of Rosalind that she falls in love with Rosalind who is disguised as a young man. This is another amusing situation, which has resulted from Rosalind's masculine disguise. Silvius seeks Phebe's love, while Phebe now seeks Rosalind's (or  Ganymede's) love.

Orlando's Mock-Wooing of Rosalind

An encounter takes places between Rosalind and Jaques. Jaques admits that he is a melancholy man and says that his melancholy is not of any ordinary kind. Much of his melancholy, he says, is the result of his meditations over his experiences gained by him during his travels. Rosalind mocks at Jaques, and makes fun of the man whose experiences, gained during his travels, have made him melancholy. After Jaques has left, Orlando arrives to meet Ganymede (or Rosalind). Orlando has come in accordance with the arrangement that had been made between him and Ganymede that he would come daily and make love to Ganymede, pretending that he was making love to Rosalind. Rosalind continues to behave as if she were a man but at the same time she plays the role of Rosalind because Orland0 is to treat Ganymede as Rosalind. In the masculine garb Of Ganymede, Rosalind now talks to Orlando as if she were the woman •with whom Orlando is in love. Here, once again, we have a most interesting and entertaining situation. Ganymede (or Rosalind) tells Orlando that men have died from time to time and worms have eaten them, but not for love. Again, Ganymede (or Rosalind) tells Orlando that men are April when they woo, December when they wed; and  that maids are May when they are maids but the sky changes when they are wives. Ganymede (or Rosalind) makes many other witty remarks too. After Orlando is gone, Rosalind tells Celia that she is "many fathoms deep in love".

A Trick Played By Phebe Upon Silvius

Silvius brings a letter for Ganymede. The letter has been sent by Phebe who, as we have noted, had fallen in love with Ganymede. However, Phebe has given Silvius the impression that the letter, which she has addressed to Ganymede, is full of scorn for that young man whereas actually it is a letter expressing Phebe's passion of love for him (Ganymede). When Ganymede (or Rosalind) reveals the contents of the letter to Silvius, he feels much dismayed. Ganymede (or Rosalind) rebukes Silvius for having become too servile to Phebe.

Olivers Life Saved By Orlando in the Forest of Arden

Rosalind is waiting for Orlando to pay her his next visit, as had been promised by him. There is, however, no sign of Orlando. Rosalind and Celia are now accosted by a man whom they do not know. This man is Orlando's eldest brother, Oliver. Oliver reveals his identity to Ganymede and Aliena (that is to Rosalind and Celia), and informs them that Orlando had been wounded by a lioness with whom he had fought in order to save his brother Oliver's life. Orlando had rescued Oliver from the clutches of a lioness despite the fact that Oliver had always tried to put an end to Orlando's life. Ganymede (or Rosalind) faints on hearing that Orlando had been wounded by a lioness. It becomes evident to us that, after having been severely dealt with by Duke Frederick, Oliver too had taken refuge in the Forest of Arden.

Oliver and Aliena (or Celia) in Love With Each Other

Oliver and Aliena (or Celia) have fallen in love with each other at first sight, and would like to get married. As Oliver and Orlando have now become fully reconciled to each other, Oliver informs Orlando of his ardent love for Aliena (or Celia) and of Aliena's (or Celia's) love for him. Orlando fully approves of Oliver's intention to marry Aliena (or Celia), and says that the marriage should take place on the very following day. (It should not be forgotten that Rosalind is still disguised as a young man by the name of Ganymede, and that Celia is disguised as Aliena, so that neither Orlando nor Oliver yet knows the true identity of either Ganymede or Aliena. Even Duke Senior does not yet know of the presence of his daughter Rosalind and his niece Celia in the Forest of Arden, though he had happened on one occasion to meet Ganymede or Rosalind for a few minutes).

Four Marriages, Decided Upon

Orlando is feeling melancholy because, though his brother Oliver is going to get married, his love for Rosalind is very far from being fulfilled. However, Ganynede now tells Orlando that he (or she) magic and that, by making use of that magic, he (or she) can unite Orlando his beloved Rosalind in wedlock. Orlando half-believes •and half-disbelieves Ganymede's (or Rosalind's) claim. lie tells Duke Senior what Ganymede had said. So Duke Senior, Orlando, and the others all wait for Ganymede's magic. After a little  both Ganymede and Aliena, having shed their disguises, appear before the gathering in their proper persons. The Duke is astonished  to see his daughter Rosalind and his niece Celia. Likevsise, Orlando is astonished to see both the ladies, one of them being his own beloved Rosalind. Duke heartily agrees to the marriage of Orlando and Rosalind. Oliver and Celia would likewise get married at the same time. Phebe too now agrees to marry Silvius because she discovers, to her utter surprise, that the young man Ganymede, with whom she had fallen in love, is really a woman by the name of Rosalind. And, of course, Touchstone would marry Audrey.

Duke Frederick, Converted to a Religious Life

The news comes that Duke Frederick had come to the Forest of Arden with a large force to attack Duke Senior in order to put an end to his life because more and more persons of great worth had started coming to the Forest of Arden in order to join Duke Senior. However, Duke Frederick had by chance met a saintly kind of man in the Forest of Arden and had fallen under that pious man's influence to such an extent that he (Duke Frederick) had decided to renounce the worldly life altogether and to become a hermit. This news means that the dukedom would be restored to Duke Senior, and that the property and lands belonging to the exiled lords would also be restored to them. Thus the play ends happily for everybody concerned. However, Jaques declares that he would not like to go back to the court but would join Frederick who has become a hermit. Jaques says that he would hold philosophical discussions with the man who has been converted to a life of piety and solitude.