Belonging_-_as_You_Like_Is

Belonging is important in how we define ourselves. Our sense of belonging or connection can emerge from people and places. In William Shakespeare’s play, As You Like It, a sense of belonging is perceived and developed with the formation of various relationships. Different relationships are explored through different contexts, such as love, family and friendships. A sense of connection is also developed within important locations in the text. The Forest of Arden, while may not be luxurious, is a place where characters develop a strong sense of belonging. This is primarily due to the connections the characters make with other people. As You Like It is set in two main locations; the Forest of Arden and the Court. Shakespeare uses these two settings to as juxtaposition. As a ‘good vs. evil’ concept, the Forest is perceived as a place where true belonging can be found. For example, Celia, upon leaving the court says: ‘to liberty, and not to banishment’ (i, iii). This close reference to the Forest shows how pleasant life shall be, directly contrasted with how disrupted life was in the Court. When analysing how people feel true belonging when making connections to people and places, the characters in the text are more easily able to belong in the forest than the Court. This is traced primarily back to who’s in the forest rather than the specific location. Dramatic irony is used in acts iii to v. The audience understand that Rosalind is Ganymede and Celia is Aliena. As the characters in the play are unaware, Rosalind is able to manipulate her role in order to get to know Orlando. ‘I would cure you if you would but call me Rosalind... woo me’ (Rosalind; iii, iii). This use of irony provides Rosalind the opportunity to establish her sense of belonging with Orlando in the context of love. The relationship between Orlando and Rosalind is continued in act iii. As prompted by himself, Orlando carves letters on the trees. The device of satire and exaggeration are demonstrated here. ‘run run Orlando, carve on every tree the fair, the chaste, and unexpressive she’ (iii, ii). This is used as a satirical image to point out the absurdity of Orlando’s actions. Exaggeration is also conveyed in that ‘lovers’ traditionally carve initials into trees, whereas Orlando expresses his love through poetry and verse carvings. The exaggeration and satire both link back to Orlando’s connection of love with Rosalind. This link is directly associated with Orlando and Rosalind defining themselves and finding belonging with each other. Other relationships, including Phebe and Silvius also develop a sense of belonging in the play. Irony is used in foreshadowing what will happen. ‘if ever – as that ‘ever’ may be near... love’s keen arrows make’ (iii, vi). This quote by Silvius foreshadows the love that the couple will share and the sense of belonging that emerges from each other’s company. Relationship’s are not always about love. Celia and Rosalind share a kinship that cannot be broken by loyalty to their respective fathers. ‘I will forge the condition of my estate to rejoice in yours’, Rosalind explains to Celia. This is a declaration that the two belong with each other’s friendship. The symbolism conveyed by the composer is evident in the Forest of Arden. While it’s just a forest, it displays the natural environment which acts as a parent of true belonging and natural order. Duke senior uses a rhetorical question to express his feelings about the authenticity of the forest. ‘Are these woods not more free from peril than the envious court'’ This, contrasted with the court, displays the belonging a character can feel when coming to the forest with other characters. The composer knows this and sets the whole second half of the play inside the forest. With the setting in the forest, Shakespeare effectively helps define self-belonging for the characters through the use connectivity between people and places. Shakespeare also deeply defines characters in how they interact. Deep irony is exhibited when Duke Fredrick replies to Oliver who says ‘I never loved my brother’, with ‘more villain thou’ (iii, i). This is ironic as Due Fredrick treated his brother much worse than Oliver by banishing his brother to the forest. This reveal of character shows that Duke Fredrick may find it hard to feel a sense of belonging in a family sense. Banishment of a brother could be a clear statement to say that Duke Fredrick chooses not to belong. After coming out of the Court and into the Forest, Oliver witnesses his younger brother being attacked by a lion. After this event, the audience see’s a change take place within Oliver. When Celia asks if Oliver came to kill his brother Oliver replies; ‘twas I, but ‘tis not I...’ (iv, iii). This paradox develops the audiences understanding that Oliver is a changed man. Within the forest and connection to family, Oliver finds his sense of belonging in Celia and Orlando to help define who he is. Within the Forest of Arden, the sense of nature is evident. Shakespeare uses this sense of ‘natural’ imagery. ‘Well go your way to her, for I see love hath make thee a tame snake’ (Rosalind to Silvius; iv, iii). This use of the ‘tame snake’ provides the natural imagery to describe how Silvius has found his true belonging inside the forest, with Phebe. In conclusion, As You Like it, effectively explores the idea that belonging is evident when people make connections to people and places. The Forest of Arden acts as a host to the formation of various relationships stemming from love, friendship and family. These connections can all help characters define who they are and feel where they do or do not belong.