As You Like It: Plot

As You Like It is a play written by William Shakespeare (1599). It tells of two brothers, the eldest (Oliver), only recently inheriting all responsibilities, treating his younger brother (Orlando) like a servant. At one point he tries to convince a wrestler to snap Orlando's neck when they meet each other for a match. At this match, when Orlando becomes victorious, a girl by the name of Rosalind and her cousin both become interested in this victor, though Rosalind sees him in more of a romantic way.

Rosalind is the daughter of the old duke who was overthrown and banished by his brother. The only reason Rosalind is allowed to stay in court is because her best friend and cousin Celia happens to be the new dukes daughter.

It is at the wrestling match that Rosalind and Orlando meet for the first time. They quickly 'fall in love' resulting in Rosalind giving Orlando her necklace to take care of. Shortly after the match, Orlando finds out about his older brothers scheming ways and decides to run away into the Forest of Arden. Meanwhile the new duke has decided that he does not want Rosalind in the court anymore and decides to banish her to the Forest, this wasn't wise of the duke as Celia then decides that she will leave too.

When in the forest, Rosalind and Celia are joined by the courts jester (Touchstone) where they all decide to become a family of sorts, Rosalind becomes a man and Celia turns into his 'sister'. Orlando has been joined by his servant (Adam) and both are starving, this is when Orlando stumbles upon the old duke and co., who are more then willing to give Orlando and Adam some well needed food.

Throughout the story, Rosalind begins to find love poems stuck to trees all about her. They are cheesy and terribly written, but all the same seem to swoon her. This means that when Orlando and Rosalind stumble upon each other, Rosalind decides to not revel her true identity yet. Instead she becomes friends with Orlando, to see if he truly has feelings for her, and to train him to become better at courtship.

Meanwhile, a local shepherdess (Phoebe) has fallen in love with Rosalind's alter male ego. Rosalind attempts to push Phoebe onto Silvius, a shepherd that is madly in love with her. Lets just say, Phoebe feels much hatred towards Silvius.

Soon enough, Oliver comes into the woods to kill Orlando, but after deciding not to kill him, Oliver meets Celia and the both fall madly in love. This makes Orlando upset about not being able to see Rosalind (he doesn't know about her scheme yet), Rosalind then promises Orlando that he will marry his true love tomorrow.

The next day everyone is gathered round, this is when male Rosalind makes Orlando promise to marry 'Rosalind' if he is able to produce her. She then proceeds to make Phoebe promise that she will marry Silvius is she decides she doesn't want to marry Rosalind's alter ego. After all of this is arranged, Rosalind revels herself in a wedding gown along side Phoebe and Celia. All three men (Oliver, Orlando and Silvius) are waiting patiently to be wed to their true loves.