As you like it 《皆大欢喜》

❖The main characters ❖The plot overview

❖The themeBrief Introduction ❖As You Like It is a pastoral comedy.

❖The play is set in a duchy in France, but most of the action takes place in a location called the Forest of Arden, which is most likely a toponym for a forest close to Shakespeare's home town of Stratford-upon-Avon.❖Duke Frederick

Duke Senior's younger brother and his usurper, also Celia's father. The "villain" of this comedy.

❖Rosalind

Duke Senior's daughter, married with Orlando.

❖Celia

Duke Frederick's daughter and Rosalind's cousin. Eventually she meets Orlando's brother Oliver and falls in love with him.❖Duke Senior

Duke Frederick's older brother and Rosalind's father ❖Oliver de Boys

❖the eldest son and heir

❖Jacques de Boys

❖the second youngest son.

❖Orlando de Boys

❖youngest son.The plot overview ❖Frederick has usurped (篡夺) the Duchy （公爵领地）and exiled his older brother, Duke Senior. The Duke's daughter Rosalind has been permitted to remain at court because she is the closest friend of Frederick's only child, Celia.

❖Orlando, a young gentleman who has fallen in love at first sight of Rosalind, is forced to flee his home after being persecuted（）by his older brother, Oliver.

❖Celia and Rosalind decide to flee to the Forest of Arden, where the exiled Duke now lives with some supporters. Meanwhile Orlando and his servant Adam also come to the forest and find the Duke and his men.

❖Orlando sees Oliver in the forest and rescues him from a lion, causing Oliver to repent (后悔) for mistreating him .❖At last, all the main characters, Orlando and Rosalind, Oliver and Celia (even including Silvius and Phebe, and Touchstone and Audrey) all are married in the final scene. Frederick has also repented his faults, deciding to restore his brother to the dukedom and adopt a religious life.

❖Love

Love is the central theme of As You Like It, like other romantic comedies of Shakespeare. This principle of 'love at first sight' is seen in the love-stories of Rosalind and Orlando, Celia and Oliver, as well as Phebe and Ganymede.❖Usurpation and Injustice

This is a significant theme of this play. Frederick usurps the legitimate place of his elder brother Duke Senior and forces him to flee for his life. Oliver de Boys usurps the rights of his younger brother Orlando and treats him so ungenerously as to compel him to seek his fortune elsewhere. Both outcasts take refuge in the forest, where justice is restored "through nature"❖Forgiveness

The play highlights the theme of usurpation and injustice on the property of others. However, it ends happily with reconciliation and forgiveness. Duke Frederick is converted by a hermit and he restores the dukedom to Duke Senior who, in his turn, restores the forest to the deer. Oliver also undergoes a change of heart and learns to love Orlando. Thus, the play ends on a note of rejoicing and merry-making.