SparkNotes - As You Like It

When Shakespeares words make your head spin, our translations will help you sort out whats happening, whos saying what, and why.

Rosalind teaches those around her to think, feel, and love better than they have previously, and ensures that the courtiers returning from Arden are gentler than when they fled to it. OrlandoThe youngest son of Sir Rowland de Bois and younger brother of Oliver. Orlando is a handsome young man who, under his brothers neglectful care, has languished without a gentlemans education or training. Regardless, he considers himself to have great potential, and his victorious battle with Charles proves him right. Orlando cares for the aging Adam in the Forest of Arden and later risks his life to save Oliver from a hungry lioness, proving himself a proper gentleman and fitting mate for Rosalind. Duke SeniorThe father of Rosalind and the rightful ruler of the dukedom in which the play is set.

Having been banished by his usurping brother, Frederick, Duke Senior now lives in exile in the Forest of Arden with a number of loyal men, including Lord Amiens and Jaques. Far from resenting his banishment, Duke Senior celebrates his life in the forest and his freedom from the rivalries and corruption of the court. Content in the forest, where he claims to learn as much from stones and brooks as he would in a church or library, Duke Senior demonstrates himself to be a kind and fair-minded ruler. JaquesA faithful lord who accompanies Duke Senior into exile in the Forest of Arden. Jaques is an example of a stock figure in Elizabethan comedy, the man possessed of a hopelessly melancholy disposition. Jaques stands on the sidelines of life, watching and judging the actions of the other characters without ever fully participating in the action around him.

Jaques alone refuses to follow Duke Senior and the other courtiers back to court, and instead resolves to assume a solitary and contemplative life in a monastery. CeliaThe daughter of Duke Frederick and Rosalinds dearest friend. Celias devotion to Rosalind is unmatched, as evidenced by her decision to follow her cousin into exile. To make the trip, Celia assumes the disguise of a simple shepherdess and calls herself Aliena. As we see from her extreme love of Rosalind and her immediate devotion to Oliver, whom she marries at the end of the play, Celia possesses a loving heart, but is impetuous and prone to deep, almost excessive emotions. Duke FrederickThe brother of Duke Senior and usurper of his throne.

Duke Fredericks cruel nature and volatile temper are displayed when he banishes his niece, Rosalind, from court without reason. That Celia, his own daughter, cannot mitigate his unfounded anger demonstrates the intensity of the dukes hatefulness. Frederick mounts an army against his exiled brother but aborts his vengeful mission after he meets an old religious man on the road to the Forest of Arden. TouchstoneA clown or jester in Duke Fredericks court who accompanies Rosalind and Celia in their flight to Arden. Although it is Touchstones job, as a professional fool, to criticize the behavior and point out the folly of those around him, he does so in a very different style from Rosalind. OliverThe oldest son of Sir Rowland de Bois and sole inheritor of the de Bois estate. OliverThe oldest son of Sir Rowland de Bois and sole inheritor of the de Bois estate.

Oliver is a loveless young man who begrudges his brother, Orlando, a gentlemans education. He admits to hating Orlando without cause or reason, and goes to great lengths to ensure Orlandos downfall. SilviusA young shepherd desperately in love with the proud and disdainful Phoebe. Following the conventions of the love poetry of the time, Silvius prostrates himself before a woman who refuses to return his affections. In the end, however, he wins the object of his desire. PhoebeA young shepherdess who disdains the affections of Silvius.

She falls in love with Ganymede, who is really Rosalind in disguise, but Rosalind tricks Phoebe into marrying Silvius. Lord AmiensA faithful lord who accompanies Duke Senior into exile in the Forest of Arden. Lord Amiens is jolly and loves to sing. CharlesA professional wrestler in Duke Fredericks court. Charles demonstrates both his caring nature and his political savvy when he asks Oliver to intercede in his upcoming fight with Orlando: He does not want to injure the young man and thereby lose favor among the nobles who support him. AdamThe ancient former servant of Sir Rowland de Bois. AdamThe ancient former servant of Sir Rowland de Bois.

Having witnessed Orlandos hardships, Adam offers not only to accompany his young master into exile but to fund their journey with the whole of his modest lifes savings. He is a model of loyalty and devoted service.