Mr_Shank

First off, Mr. Shank, since the title of the play is as you like it, I would like to say that I would like it if I never would have had to read it. This honestly serves no purpose except to get in one last torture session before the year is over.

Now about the play……

Act III

The act starts off with Oliver searching for Orlando. He then goes to see Duke Frederick, he tells Oliver that if Orlando isn’t found in a year he will take of Oliver’s property and while he is searching for him the duke will temporarily seize his land. In the next scene Orlando is running through the forest hanging up poems about Rosalind hoping that others will read them and appreciate her like he does. Corin and Touchstone walk through the forest unaware of the poems, Rosalind enters shortly after they do. She and her friend Celia, who is also in disguise, agree that the poems are badly written. But when Rosalind finds out that Orlando wrote them she becomes incredibly excited and wants to know everything about him. As the women are talking they hear voices and decide to hide. Orlando and Jaques walk enter and are arguing with one another. Jaques leaves to wonder the forest alone; Rosalind sees this as the opportunity to approach him as Ganymede. She talks to him about the poems about Rosalind and he says that is madly in love. She disagrees with him and then tells him to try and woo her (Ganymede) as if she were Rosalind (she really is Rosalind). She asks Orlando if she could tutor him in the ways of love. He agrees to come to her house and learn from her (he thinks he’s talking to Ganymede). In the next scene Touchstone and his mistress are wandering around in the forest, Jaques is closely following. They talk about their situation and also how he has already arranged a marriage for them. During the ceremony the priest (or guy whose marrying them, whatever he’s called) says that in order for it to be official someone must give the bride away. Jaques offers to help but then persuades the two lovers to get married in an actual church. The three of them leave the forest leaving the priest alone and confused. The next scene starts off with Rosalind (Ganymede) waiting for Orlando to show up, he does not. Rosalind becomes worried and slightly angry; she compares him to Judas from the bible. Celia says that he’s not a traitor but basically says that Orlando can not be depended on since he’s in love. Corin then enters and tells the women that Silvius is about to try and woo Phoebe, and wanted to know if they wanted to watch. Rosalind agrees and goes to see what happens, but she intends to do more than just watch. The next scene starts with Silvius begging Phoebe to take accept him. Corin and the disguised Celia and Rosalind enter to see Phoebe’s reply. She mocks the way he talks and says that if her eyes are murderers why isn’t he dead yet. Rosalind steps in and tells Phoebe that she should be lucky that Silvius wants her. Phoebe instead falls in love with Ganymede right then and there, seeing this Rosalind departs with Celia, as to try and avoid any more trouble. She tells Silvius that she wants him to deliver a letter to Ganymede from her, not a love letter but one taunting Ganymede. Although I’m pretty sure it’s going to be a love letter. 

Words to your mother:

chaste- to abstain from sex

copulation- to have sexual intercourse

cuckoldly- to be a man with an unfaithful wife

ere- before time itself

medlar- a fruit shaped tree

Questions: Everyone is the play seems to be eavesdropping all the time, why do you think that is? Are they just nosey or was it a cultural thing?

Adam Lough