Discuss Shakespeare’s Treatment of Love in “As You Like It”.

Answer

Discuss Shakespeare’s treatment of love in “As You Like It”.

The play iconic “As You Like It” (1623) was written by William Shakespeare (1564-1616). Love is the main theme of the story. The play shows different types of love. These include romantic love, family love, and friendship. Shakespeare explores love in a light and happy way. The Forest of Arden is the place where most love stories grow. It’s time to examine the points about love in this play.

Romantic Love/Love at First Sight: Romantic love is shown in Rosalind and Orlando’s story. They fall in love at first sight. Rosalind praises Orlando after his fight. She says, 

“Sir, you have wrestled well.” 

Orlando loves Rosalind deeply, too. In the forest of Arden, Rosalind (disguised as Ganymede) tests his love. She tells him, 

“Come, woo me, woo me.” 

Their love is pure and true. They respect and care for each other. Romantic love in the play shows how love can be magical and everlasting.

Friendship Love/Sisterly Love: Relation between Celia and Rosalind is evident in Sisterly Love. When Rosalind is banished from the royal court by her uncle, Duke Frederic, Celia also joins Rosalind. Celia reveals her love for her cousin, saying,

“I cannot live out of her company.”

She goes to the forest and supports each other unconditionally, though they are not the sister of the same parent. Celia’s love for Rosalind knows no limits. Even Le Beau, the courtier, describes their love in the following line:

“Dearer than the natural bond of sisters.”

Brotherly Love: “As You Like It” begins with a lack of brotherly love. Here, Oliver hates his brother Orlando and wants him dead. Duke Frederick exiled his brother, Duke Senior, and usurped his dukedom. But in the last part of the play, they both show their brotherly love.

Fatherly Love: Fatherly love is shown through Duke Senior and Rosalind. Duke Senior loves Rosalind deeply and cares for her. Even when he is banished, Rosalind stays close to him in the forest. Their bond is strong and full of understanding. Another example is Duke Frederick and Celia. Though Duke Frederick is strict, Celia loves him as her father. She stays loyal to him even when he is harsh. Fatherly love in As You Like It shows care, protection, and family bonds.

Love for Nature: The Duke is living in exile in the Forest of Arden. He is banished from court by his brother. Despite the hardship, he finds peace and happiness in the simplicity of forest life. He sees exile as a blessing in disguise. It teaches him to appreciate nature and freedom. He admires its beauty and simplicity. The Duke says, 

“Sweet are the uses of adversity.” 

The line teaches us that hard times can help us. Challenges teach us lessons. They make us stronger. Adversity can bring hidden blessings. It helps us grow and see life differently.

One-Sided Love: Silvius loves Phoebe deeply, but she does not love him back. His love is one-sided and full of pain. Phoebe is rude to Silvius. She ignores his feelings. Even though she rejects him, Silvius stays loyal. He is ready to do anything for her. This kind of love shows how painful one-sided love can be. Shakespeare uses Silvius to show the sacrifices people make for love.

In conclusion, Shakespeare treats love in “As You Like It” in many ways. He shows love as magical, funny, and deep. Each love story is unique. The play teaches us that love is powerful. It can heal, unite, and bring joy to everyone. Shakespeare’s message is clear: love makes life beautiful.