As You Like It Act I, Scene i

"She is at the court, and no less beloved of her uncle than his own daughter; and never two ladies loved as they do." - Charles.

For this blog, I am going to answer a question found on p. 1119 of my text book.

What themes does the play present?  To what extent do the thematic materials of the play have an effect on the dramatic experience?  Does the power of the ideas increase or decrease the pleasure of the theatrical experience?  Does the play seem either too didactic or insufficient in its presentation of important human concerns?


One major theme this play presents is that things are not always as they may seem.  The quote I used above is an example of this because although it was thought that Duke Frederick loved Rosalind like his own daughter,   he actually was nervous about having her around because he believed that since she was the daughter of the banished Duke, she was probably a traitor.  Rosalind and Celia both believed that Duke Frederick was fine with Rosalind staying with them, but they soon realized that it was all an act.  Duke Frederick could not wait to get Rosalind out of the kingdom.  The effect that this theme has on the dramatic experience is that it is a theme that we can all relate to in our everyday lives.  It is a timeless theme that people of all generations can take into consideration and learn from.  The power of this theme increases the pleasure of the theatrical experience because it makes the play that much more interesting.  If things were always as they seemed in the play, then it would be incredibly boring.  This play is definitely not too didactic.   However, the play was not insufficient in its presentation of these themes because I knew exactly what the themes were.  If it was insufficient, then it would probably be incredibly difficult to even know what those themes were.