Act 1 is the introduction to the story of As You Like It. It introduces the characters, the background information, the relationships, the plot- but most of all it introduces the themes and ideas that run throughout the play. It mentions love, hate, family, the role of women and men, independence, caring- the list goes on. What I think is one of the most important themes the novel brings up starts with the title. As You Like It is an even more prevalent theme in the play. In class, my group was talking about how "As You Like It" refers to pretty much the whole play. Love can be however you like, family, personality, who you are and what you do- it is all however you like it. It's an easy-going sort of title, which also speaks to the comedy of the play. But what I like about the title is that one can only understand this after one has read the play, understood the characters, and thought about it. It's sort of saying something about life. Which is interesting.
And this idea starts in the introduction, in Act 1. While it does not introduce that things can be "as you like it", it sets up the plot to cover this. Each character has a problem, and each is unhappy: Orlando wishes to step out from under his brother's thumb, Rosalind wants independence, Oliver and Duke Frederick feel insecure about themselves and threatened by their family members, Touchstone wondering about the foolery of wise men, etc. They each want to change their lives, and by the end of the play, they each do. Rosalind has the control and independence she craved. Touchstone becomes a little wiser and a little more foolish. Each character almost finds him/herself through the course of the play and end up happier for it. They make themselves as they like. I find this fascinating. Only in retrospect can I see this. Life is as you like it.
I guess what I think is the most important aspect of Act 1 is that it is an introduction. A very good one, I have to say. It introduces all that it needs to to get the reader thinking and ready for what is to come, so one can wait in anticipation.
And this idea starts in the introduction, in Act 1. While it does not introduce that things can be "as you like it", it sets up the plot to cover this. Each character has a problem, and each is unhappy: Orlando wishes to step out from under his brother's thumb, Rosalind wants independence, Oliver and Duke Frederick feel insecure about themselves and threatened by their family members, Touchstone wondering about the foolery of wise men, etc. They each want to change their lives, and by the end of the play, they each do. Rosalind has the control and independence she craved. Touchstone becomes a little wiser and a little more foolish. Each character almost finds him/herself through the course of the play and end up happier for it. They make themselves as they like. I find this fascinating. Only in retrospect can I see this. Life is as you like it.
I guess what I think is the most important aspect of Act 1 is that it is an introduction. A very good one, I have to say. It introduces all that it needs to to get the reader thinking and ready for what is to come, so one can wait in anticipation.
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