As typical for romantic comedy, the central theme in William Shakespeare's "As You Like It" is love in its various forms. In total, there are four conventional couples (Rosalind & Or-lando, Celia & Oliver, Phebe & Silvius, Audrey & Touchstone) and one rejected country fellow (William).
Nevertheless, the forms of love differ between those couples. Most of the relationships in "As You Like It" are based on the principle of love at first sight, implying an abrupt and overwhelming falling in love; this can be seen with Rosalind and Orlando right at the beginning of the comedy as well as with Celia and Oliver later in the play, although in the case of the latter the audience does not know at what point of the plot they actually fell in love with each other.
An overwhelming romantic, however, is also experienced by Silvius, but his beloved Phebe dismisses him because she believes his love to be a fantasy, mocking thus the principle of love at first sight as well as the impulsive love expressions.
Table of Contents
- Romantic and Realistic Love in Shakespeare's As You Like It
Objectives and Key Themes
This analysis examines the portrayal of love in Shakespeare's As You Like It, comparing and contrasting different forms of romantic expression. The main objective is to explore the interplay between idealized romantic love and a more realistic approach to relationships within the play's comedic structure.
- Romantic love as a literary trope
- Realistic depictions of love and relationships
- Parody of romantic conventions
- The evolution of romantic relationships
- The diverse forms of love and their outcomes
Chapter Summaries
Romantic and Realistic Love in Shakespeare's As You Like It: This chapter explores the various forms of love presented in Shakespeare's *As You Like It*, ranging from idealized romantic love, exemplified by Orlando's poetic expressions, to a more pragmatic view, highlighted by Rosalind's and Touchstone's interactions. The analysis examines how Shakespeare contrasts these different approaches, ultimately showing their convergence in the play's resolution. Orlando’s initially hyperbolic romantic declarations are contrasted with Rosalind’s grounded perspective, while Touchstone’s cynical view of love parodies conventional romantic gestures. The chapter sets the stage for a detailed investigation into how these different types of love function within the play's narrative and thematic structure.
Keywords
Shakespeare, As You Like It, romantic love, realistic love, comedy, literary tradition, poetry, courtship, marriage, Rosalind, Orlando, Touchstone, parody.
Shakespeare's As You Like It: A Comprehensive Language Preview - FAQ
What is this document?
This is a language preview providing a structured overview of an analysis of Shakespeare's As You Like It. It includes the table of contents, objectives, key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords.
What are the key themes explored in this analysis of As You Like It?
The analysis focuses on the portrayal of love in the play, comparing and contrasting romantic and realistic depictions. Key themes include romantic love as a literary trope, realistic portrayals of love and relationships, parody of romantic conventions, the evolution of romantic relationships, and the diverse forms of love and their outcomes.
What is the main objective of this analysis?
The main objective is to explore the interplay between idealized romantic love and a more realistic approach to relationships within the comedic structure of As You Like It.
What does the chapter summary cover?
The chapter summary details the exploration of various forms of love in the play. It examines how Shakespeare contrasts idealized romantic love (represented by Orlando) with a more pragmatic view (Rosalind) and a cynical parody (Touchstone). It highlights how these contrasting approaches ultimately converge in the play's resolution and their function within the play's narrative and thematic structure.
What are the key characters discussed?
The analysis specifically mentions Rosalind, Orlando, and Touchstone, highlighting their different approaches to and portrayals of love within the play.
What are the keywords associated with this analysis?
The keywords include: Shakespeare, As You Like It, romantic love, realistic love, comedy, literary tradition, poetry, courtship, marriage, Rosalind, Orlando, Touchstone, parody.
What types of love are compared and contrasted?
The analysis compares and contrasts idealized romantic love, as exemplified by Orlando's poetic expressions, with a more pragmatic and realistic view of love and relationships, as seen in Rosalind's and Touchstone's interactions.
What is the overall approach of the analysis?
The analysis uses a comparative approach, examining how Shakespeare presents and interweaves different types of love within the play's comedic framework, ultimately showing their convergence in the resolution.
- Quote paper
- Doreen Klahold (Author), 2013, Romantic and Realistic Love in Shakespeare’s "As You Like It", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/230763
