Theme:
As You Like It by William Shakespeare, written around 1599, explores the theme of love, disguise, and the harmonizing power of nature. There is love at first sight between Orlando and Rosalind, Phoebe and Ganymede, and Oliver and Celia. It not only insists that people can and do change, but also celebrates their ability to change for the better.
Summary:
Rosalind and her cousin escape into the forest and find Orlando, Rosalind’s love. Disguised as a boy shepherd, Rosalind has Orlando woo her under the guise of “curing” him of his love for Rosalind. Rosalind reveals she is a girl and marries Orlando during a group wedding at the end of the play.
Famous Quote:
“The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool.”
“I pray you, do not fall in love with me, for I am falser than vows made in wine.”
“Master, go on, and I will follow thee. To the last gasp with truth and loyalty.”
“All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players: They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts, His acts being seven ages.”
“Do you not know I am a woman? when I think, I must speak.”
“It is to be all made of fantasy, All made of passion and all made of wishes, All adoration, duty, and observance, All humbleness, all patience and impatience, All purity, all trial, all observance”
“It is far easier for me to teach twenty what were right to be done, than be one of the twenty to follow mine own teaching.”
“What would you have? Your gentleness shall force. More than your force move us to gentleness.”
“Most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly.”
“Time travels at different speeds for different people. I can tell you who time strolls for, who it trots for, who it gallops for, and who it stops cold for.”
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