Printable View
there's a question i wanna ask about "as you like it":
some critics view comedy as a language through which subversive and disturbing content can be articulated with safety. comedy, according to some perspectives, should be understood and read as a genreby which conventions are scrutinized and even, momentarily overthrown
what feautures of As You Like It exemplifies either one of these opposing views on comedy!
thankyou all :)
There are many spins on "as you like it". I should like to suggest a spin wherein one may hear "as you like it" as in a response to as someone else likes "it" made "more agreeable". Wherefore, the question becomes: what is "it" that is being made "more agreeable" or "as you like it" as in a compare. This is a rather interesting way to read this play, and to discover what is funny, and, actually what is the bases upon which this comedy is predicated.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pretty^Athens
Shakespeare in my view writes as a Christian writer would in the 1590's, and particularly as one who was raised as a youth in Stratford upon the Avon River. In his book, "the Quest for Shakespeare", the author, Mr Joseph Pearce, details the life of John Shakespeare, William Shakespeare's father, as an outlaw by reason of his Catholic faith in an Elizabethan and Anglican England. When you can hear William's "As You Like It" as a response to life at court, your excellent question will find answers. Additionally, one may hear comedy in "As You Like It" verses tragedy in "Hamlet". The cause of the tragedy of the Prince of Denmark goes to the nature of the spirit of adoption at court, the something that is rotten in Denmark. The cause of the comedy in "As You Like It" goes to the nature of the spirit of adoption abroad, that allows for redemption, or that allows one to become loosed from the dark power that rules at court in Denmark. You have asked an excellent question. I pray that my response is one that you like. At any rate, have a nice day.
Ooh, lots of ways to discuss this theme. I think the most obvious one is exploration of genders. It's funny that Rosalind disguises herself as Ganymede to seduce Orlando and I think because it's such a ridiculous idea, Shakespeare uses it as a cover to explore controversial issues of what it means to be male or female and to hint at same-sex relationships.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pretty^Athens
Another controversial issue that is touched upon is the dysfunctional family. There's sibling rivalry and exile and all sorts of things wrong with this family. But the way Shakespeare handles it is so fantastic (almost everyone has a happy ending) that we don't have to come face-to-face with the serious issues. But they are there hidden under the surface.
You can explore some of these themes here (be sure to check out "foolishness and folly"), as well as quotes on these themes: http://www.shmoop.com/themes/literat...u-like-it.html
A pair of characters you should check out for this question are Jaques and Touchstone. Both are so extreme as to be ridiculous, but yet there is wisdom in their words. You can find a bit of character analysis here:
http://www.shmoop.com/characters/lit...u-like-it.html
Good luck!
"Ooh, lots of ways to discuss this theme. I think the most obvious one is exploration of genders. It's funny that Rosalind disguises herself as Ganymede to seduce Orlando and I think because it's such a ridiculous idea, Shakespeare uses it as a cover to explore controversial issues of what it means to be male or female and to hint at same-sex relationships."
A question: is it accurate to say that Rosalind disguishes herself as Ganymede to seduce Orlando?
Afterall, Rosalind disguises herself as a man in order to reduce the risk of being assaulted when she and Celia flee the court, not because she plans to seduce Orlando. Once in Arden, Rosalind learns that Orlando is also in the forest and appears to be in love with her. She is most certainly in love with him. Uncertain about what to do with her male disguise, yet deeply desirous of his company, Rosalind take the chance of speaking to Orlando while disguished --- then the fun begins, and as you observe, Shakesepare explores issues of gender, same-sex relationships, etc.
While the relationship between Rosalind and Orlando matures while she is disguished, both characters had acknowledged their love for one another prior to coming to Arden. Ultimately, Rosalind uses her disguise not to seduce but to reveal, to reveal Orlando's integrity, to reveal the difference between lasting and transient love, and to reveal that real love isn't based on external trappings, but on "the marriage of true minds." As is so often the case in Shakespeare, a character uses deception to uncover the truth.
There are a lot of themes that would serve your purpose.
First is the whole idea of cross-dressing. It not only allows the female character to do things which would otherwise be censured but also hints at homosexuality(orlando has to pretend Ganymede is Rosalind but essentially he is going along with this plan knowing he is wooing a boy) and also raises questions on the issue of gender identities and their flexibility.
Secondly the play questions the law of Primogeniture according to which the eldest son inherited the entire property leaving the younger siblings to the mercy and kindness of the eldest one. This was a serious issue during Elizabethan time.
Comedy allows these attempts without seriously overthrowing the accepted conventions.