Essay from the year 2013 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, grade: 1,0, University of Paderborn, language: English, abstract: 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.

Essay from the year 2013 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, grade: 1,0, University of Paderborn, language: English, abstract: 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.

Seminar paper from the year 2015 in the subject Didactics for the subject English - Literature, Works, grade: 1,7, University of Heidelberg (Anglistisches Seminar), course: Literature & Film – Adapting Shakespeare for the Screen, language: English, abstract: William Shakespeare’s "As You Like It" portrays love and marriage in a comical, amusing manner. The play represents passionate love on the one hand, as well as disguised, blind and even manipulated love on the other hand. Love as a state of being is omnipresent throughout As You Like It. As the play’s major theme, love is illustrated essentially by eight characters who all marry at the end of the play. However, As You Like It cannot be interpreted as a typical love story. In fact, only one twosome, namely Rosalind and Orlando, illustrates a relationship of true love which ends in a happy, mutually agreeable marriage. By falling in love at first sight, they symbolize the typical Shakespearean romantic lovers whose love overcomes any obstacles. The other couples in the play, however, seem to pursue rather different goals. Audrey and Touchstone simply wish to act on their sexual desire, which they cleverly hide behind marriage in order to prevent any “Vorwurf der Unzucht” – a serious matter in Elizabethan times. Phoebe and Silvius are both in love, though not reciprocally. Silvius does love Phoebe; she, however, falls in love with Ganymede and is merely tricked into committing herself to Silvius. Celia and Oliver are simply following the lead of Rosalind and Orlando, but seem to strive for companionship rather than passion or true love. Shakespeare illustrates four different kinds of love in As You Like It in a humorous way. He demonstrates that love and marriage do not necessarily have to go hand in hand and adds comical aspects of love by turning some characters into fools. In this way, Shakespeare builds on the Elizabethan assumptions about love as a sickness, but still validates it as a valuable aspect of a happy marriage.

As You Like It is a romantic comedy composed in the style of a Christian comedy, highlighting themes such as brotherly love, marital unity, and the restoration of religion in general. The play's narrative, which is mostly set in the Forest of Arden, focuses on pastiche as a space for meditation and introspection, allowing the protagonists to alter their ways. Rosalind, one of Shakespeare's best female characters, is portrayed in this play, which centres around the love and play of four lovers, Orlando-Rosalind, Oliver-Celia. When Duke Ferdinand exiles Rosalind to the Forest of Arden, his daughter Celia joins her. They meet several noteworthy personalities in the wilderness while disguised as Ganymede and Aliena. This drama of fabrication, gender reversals, exile, and homoeroticism is a complete delight, full of enchantment, liveliness, peace, joy, and hilarity. It continues to be a popular among readers all across the world.

Shakespeare's romantic comedy sets up a number of dualities which are explored but never answered, exposing the complexity of human life that exists between romance and realism, nobleman and commoner, male and female, and more.

As You Like It is a pastoral comedy by William Shakespeare believed to have been written in 1599 and first published in the First Folio in 1623. The play's first performance is uncertain, though a performance at Wilton House in 1603 has been suggested as a possibility.As You Like It follows its heroine Rosalind as she flees persecution in her uncle's court, accompanied by her cousin Celia to find safety and, eventually, love, in the Forest of Arden. In the forest, they encounter a variety of memorable characters, notably the melancholy traveller Jaques who speaks many of Shakespeare's most famous speeches (such as "All the world's a stage", "too much of a good thing" and "A fool! A fool! I met a fool in the forest"). Jaques provides a sharp contrast to the other characters in the play, always observing and disputing the hardships of life in the country.