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About the Book As You Like It

As You Like It follows its heroine, Rosalind, as she flees persecution in her uncle's court, accompanied by her cousin Celia and the court jester, Touchstone, to find safety and, eventually, love in the Forest of Arden.

Disguised as a young man named Ganymede, Rosalind encounters Orlando, a young gentleman of the court who is also escaping the tyranny of his brother. The forest becomes a backdrop for a series of entangled love stories, comedic endeavors, and philosophical musings on life, love, and the nature of human existence.

The play reaches its climax when the various character dilemmas are resolved through a series of recognitions and revelations. Love triumphs as couples come together in marriage, and order is restored when Duke Senior is reinstated to his dukedom, allowing everyone to return from the forest transformed by their experiences.

Themes in the book As You Like It

Love in its Many Forms: Love is the central theme of As You Like It, presented in its many forms, from the passionate, almost idealized affection between Rosalind and Orlando to the more melancholic and introspective feelings of Phoebe for Silvius. The play explores love's capacity to change individuals, for better or for worse, and proposes that true love requires understanding and recognition of the other's true self.

The Nature of Reality and Disguise: Shakespeare plays with the concepts of reality and disguise, both literally, through characters disguising themselves, and metaphorically, through the idea that the world itself is a stage where every person plays multiple roles throughout their life. Rosalind's disguise as Ganymede allows her to explore her identity and assert control over her courtship with Orlando, illustrating how costume and performance can lead to deeper truths.

Pastoral Life vs. Court Life: The contrast between the corrupt, sophisticated court life and the simple, honest pastoral life is central to the play. Shakespeare idealizes the pastoral life to critique the artificiality and moral corruption of the court. The Forest of Arden serves as a place of refuge and transformation, where characters can contemplate life and rediscover their virtues.

Activity Ideas for the book As You Like It

Act it Out: Shakespeare's plays were written to be performed, not just read. Encourage students to act out scenes, focusing on the characters' body language, tone, and emotions. This helps students understand the text's nuances and Shakespeare's language's rhythm and beauty.

Modern-Day Adaptations: Ask students to create modern-day adaptations of certain scenes or characters. This could be writing scripts, performing skits, or even creating short films. This project encourages creative thinking and helps students make connections between Shakespeare's themes and contemporary issues.

Debate: Hold a class debate on one of the play’s themes, such as "Is love primarily an emotional or intellectual experience?" or "Does Shakespeare advocate for a return to nature over urban life?" This promotes critical thinking and helps students articulate and defend their views using evidence from the text.

Character Diaries: Assign students a character and have them write diary entries from that character's perspective. This exercise helps deepen understanding of the characters' motivations, feelings, and development throughout the play.

Thematic Art Projects: Encourage students to create art that represents one of the play's themes. This could be through painting, drawing, sculpture, or digital artwork. Integrating visual arts allows students to express their interpretation of the play's themes creatively.