Shakespeares As You Like It is very similar in the way it moves to A Midsummer Nights Dream.

The Forest of Arden, like the woods outside Athens, is a region defined by an attitude of liberty from ordinary limitations, a festive place where according to Barber, the folly of roma nce can have its day. The beginning of As You Like It showcases the treacherous French court with the tyrant brothers plotting against their own flesh and blood. Once in the idealized Forest of Arden, where the good Duke and many a merry men...fleet the time carelessly (I,i) the pastoral motif sets in. This brings out the age old debate featured in pastoral literature i.e. is the city life better than country life? To determine the answer, Duke Seniors court and the Forest of Arden shall be compared and contrasted.

In both settings, the common feature is chaos. In the Dukes court, this is evident when Orlando wins the wrestling tournament. Subsequently, Duke Frederick discovers that young Orlando is his enemys son. I would thou hadst been son to some man else. (I.ii) The Duke is infuriated and refuses to present any reward to Orlando for his chivalry. This shows the basic callousness of his nature. There is a sense of uncertainty that overwhelms those present in the court. The audience then wonder what Duke Fredericks next move would be, that is to hold a grudge against Orlando or to let the event pass by. The fear we have that Duke Frederick might resolve to a rash action is further escalated by Orlandos pride in being his fathers son. I would not change that calling to be adopted heir to Frederick (I,ii) The young mans honourable yet antagonizing words cast the audience over the edge of their seats in anticipation, thus creating, I feel, a frenzied atmosphere.

In the Forest of Arden, the audience is given a shock when Orlando is attacked by a lioness that was meant for Oliver. The lioness had torn some flesh away, which all this while had bled, and now he fainted (IV,iii) Said a critic, twice Orlando thought of turning his back upon the sleeping Oliver but twice his innate kindness had overcome his desire for revenge. In other words, behind the apparent dynamics of the attack, Orlando is in emotional turmoil, deciding his course of action. After the attack, Oliver speaks of his conversion, so sweetly tastes (IV,iii) He regards his sudden loss of hatred for Orlando as a heavenly transformation. Hence, there are many things that I believe we have to consider; Orlandos magnanimity, Olivers change of heart and the lioness itself. In this short space of time, we feel anxious, fearful, confused and strained. Due to the fact that this entire scene is very fast paced and full of action, it is evident that chaotic aptly describes it.

In a few words, As You Like It is about those banished from the court, seeking and finding refuge in the forest. The characters, namely Rosalind and Celia, escape their court like woes, Why wither shall we go? To seek my uncle in the Forest of Arden (I,iii) and are free from the restrains of this lifestyle. On the other hand, both sets of brothers, Oliver and Orlando as well as Duke Senior and Duke Frederick part ways. The evil brothers maintain their court lives and the benevolent, wronged brothers create an alternative green world in the Forest of Arden (Dolan). Even in the opening of the play, the audience is presented the court life which

appears to be full of corruption. You have trained me like a peasant, obscuring and hiding from me all gentleman-like qualities.(I,i) Oliver is seen to have control over Orlando and denies him his rightful education. By introducing such a tense scene early on in the play, I believe that Shakespeare intended to portray the court with an image of apprehension.

The Forest of Arden, in contrast, is full of possibilities. Characters constantly speak in conditional phrases; as Touchstone remarks, Your If is the only peacemaker. Much virtue in If (V,iv) He means that the forest allows them to explore the various barriers preset in court life. Rosalind and Celia too play with the endless possibilities that the forest presents with their disguises by dressing up as Ganymede and Aliena. Consequently, it is through her disguise that Rosalind can ask Orlando to imagine that he (Ganymede) is your very very Rosalind(IV,i). Through this analysis, the forest can be seen as a romantic setting that provides the opportunity for many characters to fall in love.