As You Like It- Plot - Plot summary of each scene of Shakespeare\'s As You Like It. In depth notes which - As You Like It PDF

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Plot summary of each scene of Shakespeare's As You Like It. In depth notes which are key to understanding the play....

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Plot: Act I:   

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Scene I, introduced to Oliver (elder) and Orlando (younger) who are the sons of the recently deceased Sir Rowland de Bois. Oliver has inherited much more than Orlando and is not treating his father's estate well. Orlando tells his friend Adam that this is irking him. Oliver enters and there is a deep tension between them and they fight until Oliver agrees to give Orlando some of his inheritance. Charles enters and tells the men that Duke Fredrick has taken over the court but that Rosalind has been asked to stay to keep Celia company. Charles also reveals that Orlando is planning to wrestle but is worried he will be hurt. He asks Oliver to tell him to stop but he says no as he is cunning enough to deal with it alone. Scene II, Rosalind is upset about her father's (Duke Senior) banishment and her cousin Celia tries to cheer her up. They are also visited by Touchstone, the jester, and Le Beau, a young courtier. Men of the court enter to prepare for the wrestling. Celia and Rosalind try to discourage Orlando from the fight as they too think he is too weak but he wrestles none the less. The fight is over quickly and Orlando has won. The Duke asks who Orlando is and he reveals himself to be the son of Sir Rowland. The Duke laments that Orlando is a relative of Rowland as they were enemies whilst the two girls swoon over him. Orlando resolves to flee the Duke and fall in love with Rosalind. Scene III, Frederick abruptly demands that Rosalind leave the court and Celia pleas against it. The two women decide to leave together, changing their names and going away in disguise (Celia, a sheep herder called Aliena and Rosalind goes by Ganymede). They also convince Touchstone to go with them to protect them.

Act II:       

Scene I, we see Senior in the woods where he is enjoying life. They treat it well and do not even wish to harm the venison. Scene II, back at the court, Frederick discovers the girls and Touchstone have fled and is enraged. He believes that Orlando will be with them so decides to ask Oliver to find him. Scene III, Orlando returns home and talks with Adam. Adam begs not to go to Oliver's house as he has heard that he plans to destroy it whilst he sleeps. The two men decide to leave the town with their money. Scene IV, Rosalind, Celia and Touchstone have arrived wearied in Arden. Two shepherds are there and talk of love and a girl called Phoebe. The three travellers buy a house that the two shepherds have spoken about. Scene V, Amiens sings a sad love song and when he stops, Jacques begs he carries on. He adds a verse about foolish people who leave their wealth to live in the outdoors. Scene VI, Orlando and Adam enter the forest but Adam is exhausted. Orlando promises him that he will find him food and carries him to shelter. Scene VII, Senior cannot find Amiens but he was last seen in good spirits. He arrives and tells them he met a fool in the forest and would now like to be one himself. Orlando interrupts the banquet and asks for food but Senior is kind and lets both the men join the meal. Senior realises who Orlando is and he is welcomed with open arms.

Act III:  

Scene I, Oliver has been unable to find Orlando. When he tells Frederick about this, Frederick tells him he has a year to do so or will lose his properly. Scene II, Orlando has been around the forest putting up love poems in the trees addressed to Rosalind. Still disguised as Ganymede, she reads them and adores them

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whilst Touchstone mocks them. Celia tells Rosalind that Orlando wrote the poems. Orlando enters and Ganymede tries to comfort him and sees how love sick he is. Scene III, Touchstone wonders the forest with a goat herder named Audrey who he discusses love with and agrees to marry her. At the ceremony there is no one to give Audrey away so they leave. Scene IV, Orlando has not turned up to meet Ganymede and she is upset. Celia tries to comfort her. Corin invites the women to see Silvius try to win over Phoebe. Scene V, we see Silvius has confessed his love to Phoebe but she has turned him down and mocks him. Rosalind intervenes and tells Phoebe she should be lucky to be admired by such a man. Phoebe instantly falls in love with Rosalind.

Act IV:    

Scene I, Orlando meets with Ganymede and they act as if she is Rosalind. She insults his first romantic attempts but he improves overtime. Celia disagrees with the way in which Rosalind has portrayed femininity. Scene II, Some of Senior's followers have killed a deer and sing a song about being cheated on. Scene III, Silvius gives a letter to Ganymede from Phoebe saying she is a rude man. She sends a letter back saying she doesn't love her and instead Phoebe should love Silvius. Oliver arrives and the women reveal who they are. Oliver gives Rosalind a bloody handkerchief and tells her that Orlando was attacked by a lion whilst defending Oliver. Whilst bleeding out, Orlando gives Oliver the handkerchief to give to Ganymede to say sorry.

Act V: 

Scene I, Touchstone and Audrey discuss their postponed marriage when the run into William. Touchstone understands William is more witty and wealthy but not educated.  Scene II, Oliver is in love with Aliena and pledges to hand over his estate to Orlando once they're married. Ganymede enters and Orlando tells her of how much he misses Rosalind. Phoebe and Silvius enter and Phoebe accuses Ganymede of being rude. She promises that Ganymede will marry Phoebe unless Rosalind appears.  Scene III, Touchstone and Audrey discuss their future marriage and meet Senior's pages and sing a song about spring.  Scene IV, the day of the wedding, the characters discuss what will happen. Senior notes how Ganymede looks a bit like his daughter. The girls reveal themselves and arrive back with Hymen, the god of marriage. All the suited couples marry. Halfway through the dinner Jaques de Bois arrives, the middle brother other Orlando and Oliver. He tells them that Frederick has abducted and they plan to return to the court....