EXCELLENT RESEARCH ESSAY ON A PLAY
K A
ENG 102
11/18/18
ENG 102
11/18/18
Essay 2
Shakespeare's “As You Like It”, suggests a politically conservative, authoritarian society with a small mixture of progressive thinking through the use of characters such as Duke Senior and Orlando (Amaya, Fink 101 Blog). Although some would say Orlando is trying to fight the system, his motives appear to be purely motivated for personal gain, not radical change.
In the play, Orlando struggles to climb the social ladder as his brother, Oliver, hinders him at every step. The hierarchy runs deep, due to “the courtesy of nations, allows [Oliver his] better, in that [Oliver is] the first-born” (Shakespeare I.1.4). Orlando wants a proper education and to be a gentleman, qualities necessary in the conservative society. The conflict escalates to the point where the two brothers are almost ready to fight. According to Farrar, these scenes can be interpreted as either a “son of an aristocrat…. Claiming the privilege due to a man of his pedigree,” or a spark of resistance to the hierarchy “within Elizabethan society” (371). Both of these possibilities foreshadow the political tension brewing within the backdrop of the play. A small family feud becomes of paramount importance when it involves members of the aristocracy since it affects everyone involved. For example, Adam, Oliver’s servant, decides to warn Orlando of the danger his older brother poses to him and convinces him to flee to the Forest of Arden. Orlando is swayed by Adams gesture, and “shows a nostalgia for ‘the antique world’ in the form of a servitude based on ideal loyalty rather than serving for profit” (372). Adam’s motive may be confused with a progressive ideology; however, the reality is that he is a servant willing to offer his fortune in exchange for a better master. Adam is still under servitude regardless of how kind Orlando is to him. This scene further reinforces the motif of banishment that occurs throughout the story. Duke Senior and his followers were the first to be exiled by Duke Frederick. As the story progresses: Celia, Rosalind, Orlando, Adam, and even Oliver, experiences this phenomenon. The play incorporates this motif in to drive the plot. Exile is what started the conflict and drove the characters towards the utopian Forest of Arden. Without it, there would be no separation between the city courts and the country forest.
When Orlando decides to challenge Charles the wrestler, Charles is stuck between a rock and a hard place. Charles tells Oliver how he is “loath to foil him, as [he] must for [his] own honor if he come in” (I.1.12). Charles is of the lower class and Orlando, despite everything, is still a member of royalty— beating him would be a slap to the royals and yet losing would mean losing his honor. As a result of this autocratic society, Charles has no choice but to ask Oliver for permission to beat his brother for fear of retaliation by the courts.
Frederick is a dictator who will pull out anything that threatens him by the roots. He first banishes Duke Senior, dividing the city as conservative and the forest as progressive. Frederick also banishes Duke Senior’s daughter Rosalind with a reason of, “let it suffice thee that [he] trust thee not” (I.3.46). Duke Frederick has no reason to banish Rosalind other than the fact that her father is Duke Senior. Rosalind had no fair trial as Duke Frederick was the judge, jury, and executioner. In addition to Rosalind, Oliver also suffers at the hands of Frederick who “abruptly seizes his lands turns him out to the forest to find Orlando” (Farrar 374). Politically, Oliver did nothing wrong, yet with merely a wave, Frederick has the power to take away everything Oliver owns.
Duke Senior is the most progressive character of them all. He considers his subordinates to be “co-mates and brothers in exile” (II.1.54), treating them as equals, unlike Duke Frederick. Not only are humans seen as equal, Duke Senior also sees the deer as being “poor dappled fools, being native burghers of [the] desert city” (II.1.54). The irony of the situation is that while the Duke laminates over the poor fate of the animals, he still readies himself for a hunt. Duke Senior loves the “absence of the court’s pretentious gaudiness and ritual observances” (Farrar 368), preferring a community with more openness. Duke senior’s idea of equality is forgoing “hierarchical observance and laud egalitarian principles” (Farrar 367). The duke is tired of the fake flattery that he received from the courts and the pretense of courtesy that had to be maintained for someone of his status. He prefers the “chiding of the winter’s wind…. [that] is no flattery” (II.1.54). The Duke is used to hearing what people think he wants to hear. On the other hand, the forest wind only gives him honesty.
Frederick is a dictator who will pull out anything that threatens him by the roots. He first banishes Duke Senior, dividing the city as conservative and the forest as progressive. Frederick also banishes Duke Senior’s daughter Rosalind with a reason of, “let it suffice thee that [he] trust thee not” (I.3.46). Duke Frederick has no reason to banish Rosalind other than the fact that her father is Duke Senior. Rosalind had no fair trial as Duke Frederick was the judge, jury, and executioner. In addition to Rosalind, Oliver also suffers at the hands of Frederick who “abruptly seizes his lands turns him out to the forest to find Orlando” (Farrar 374). Politically, Oliver did nothing wrong, yet with merely a wave, Frederick has the power to take away everything Oliver owns.
Duke Senior is the most progressive character of them all. He considers his subordinates to be “co-mates and brothers in exile” (II.1.54), treating them as equals, unlike Duke Frederick. Not only are humans seen as equal, Duke Senior also sees the deer as being “poor dappled fools, being native burghers of [the] desert city” (II.1.54). The irony of the situation is that while the Duke laminates over the poor fate of the animals, he still readies himself for a hunt. Duke Senior loves the “absence of the court’s pretentious gaudiness and ritual observances” (Farrar 368), preferring a community with more openness. Duke senior’s idea of equality is forgoing “hierarchical observance and laud egalitarian principles” (Farrar 367). The duke is tired of the fake flattery that he received from the courts and the pretense of courtesy that had to be maintained for someone of his status. He prefers the “chiding of the winter’s wind…. [that] is no flattery” (II.1.54). The Duke is used to hearing what people think he wants to hear. On the other hand, the forest wind only gives him honesty.
Although Duke Senior claims to want equality, “the court’s formalities still persist, in that they never cease addressing him as ‘my lord’ as opposed” (Farrar 370) to more casual different forms of address; rather than correcting his followers, the duke ironically allows the custom to continue, showing his tacit approval. Another criticism for the duke is whether he is actually happy in the forest. Amiens comments “happy is your Grace” (II.1.54) to Duke Senior, as though trying to discern whether the duke is happy bitter about Duke Frederick taking away his status (Farrar 369). For all of Duke Senior’s claims on how lovely the forest is, it looks as though he may miss the courts and the prestige more than he lets on.
Duke Senior and his entourage are not in complete harmony. Jacques continually criticizes the forest and dims the mood or the group. When the duke was planning on hunting deer, Jacques described the act as “fright[ening] the animals and kill[ing] them up in their assigned and native dwelling place” (II.1.58). The forest is supposed to be away from big government, a place of equality, and yet Jacques still sees the oppression even though the group does not. Jacques suggests that their presence “may disrupt and taint the forest’s natural order” (Farrar 370). When the group kill a stag, Jacques uses it as an analogy, for “Duke Senior’s usurpation of the forest outwiegh[ing] Duke Frederick’s vileness in usurping the dukedom” (Farrar 379). Additionally, the meaning within this statement is a metaphor for the fact that he considers himself an outsider, forgotten by the group (Farrar 379). Duke Seniors group is meant to represent equal rights and fairness; however, in Jacques’s perspective, he does not feel like he has the same social standing as the rest of the members of Duke Seniors party. In the dialogue between Duke Senior and Jacques, they talk back and forth over Jacque's idea to criticize people's sins. The duke tells Jacques that he would be a hypocrite since he himself “hast been a libertine” (II.7.80). Jacques rebuttals: “why, who cries out in pride that can therein tax any private party?” (II.7.80). The duke thinks that since Jacques also commits sins, he has no right to judge other people’s since. Jacques believes that it is okay if he does not criticize a particular person. Jacques’s way of thinking is quite different from the rest of the group, leading to the feeling of isolation.
Duke Senior and his entourage are not in complete harmony. Jacques continually criticizes the forest and dims the mood or the group. When the duke was planning on hunting deer, Jacques described the act as “fright[ening] the animals and kill[ing] them up in their assigned and native dwelling place” (II.1.58). The forest is supposed to be away from big government, a place of equality, and yet Jacques still sees the oppression even though the group does not. Jacques suggests that their presence “may disrupt and taint the forest’s natural order” (Farrar 370). When the group kill a stag, Jacques uses it as an analogy, for “Duke Senior’s usurpation of the forest outwiegh[ing] Duke Frederick’s vileness in usurping the dukedom” (Farrar 379). Additionally, the meaning within this statement is a metaphor for the fact that he considers himself an outsider, forgotten by the group (Farrar 379). Duke Seniors group is meant to represent equal rights and fairness; however, in Jacques’s perspective, he does not feel like he has the same social standing as the rest of the members of Duke Seniors party. In the dialogue between Duke Senior and Jacques, they talk back and forth over Jacque's idea to criticize people's sins. The duke tells Jacques that he would be a hypocrite since he himself “hast been a libertine” (II.7.80). Jacques rebuttals: “why, who cries out in pride that can therein tax any private party?” (II.7.80). The duke thinks that since Jacques also commits sins, he has no right to judge other people’s since. Jacques believes that it is okay if he does not criticize a particular person. Jacques’s way of thinking is quite different from the rest of the group, leading to the feeling of isolation.
The play “As You Like It” is patriarchal in nature. The only reason characters like Rosalind play such a big role is the fact that they cross dress as a man. When Rosalind is banished from Duke Frederick’s court, she is forced to disguise herself as a man since “beauty provoketh thieves sooner than gold” (I.3.50). Being a man is not only safe, but it gives Rosalind strength. As they travel wearily, Rosalind refuses to show weakness, as it would “disgrace [her] man’s apparel to cry like a woman” (II.4.68). Even though she is pretending, Rosalind is somehow able to draw strength from manhood that she is unable to bring out as a woman. Females are viewed as frail princesses while men are knights full of vigor. The gender inequality represents the social norm inherent to the establishment of this time. It indicates a lack of progress towards civil rights— as is expected due to the internalization of these social norms like women being weaker than men.
Shakespeare's play exhibits a conservative government overall. Any attempts for change seem halfhearted. At the end of the play, Duke Senior’s “rightful privilege is restored and the radical order is extinguished” (Farrar 375). The Duke would rather return to his social class instead of living in equality within the forest. The potential for the progressive movement was destroyed in those moments as the play concluded as conservative. Orlando is also given the respect of his standing that he was fighting for. Rather than fighting the authority, he becomes part of it. Orlando ends up with Rosalind who loses her disguise and status of a man, representing the flip back to traditional marriage and order. The small acts of revolution in the play are meant mollify the lower class audience watching. In reality, the social order has not truly been shaken, so far it is ever present.
Works Cited
Belsey, Catherine. "Gender in a Different Dispensation: The Case of Shakespeare."
DiGeSt. Journal of Diversity and Gender Studies, vol. 1, no. 1, 2014, pp. 7-19.
JSTOR.
Farrar, Ryan. "The Thin Line between Legitimate Utopia and Compensatory Vacation."
Utopian Studies, vol. 25, no. 2, 2014, pp. 359-383. JSTOR.
Shakespeare, William. As You Like It. SparkNotes, 2003.
