As You Like It, Act I, Scene I Summary

Act I, Scene I

• The play begins with a conversation between Orlando and Adam.
• Orlando is the youngest son of Sir Rowland de Boys.
• Adam has been a loyal servant to the family for many years.
• Orlando expresses to Adam that he is not being fairly treated by his eldest brother, Oliver.
• Orlando and another son were to be properly educated with money from their father.
• Oliver is not properly looking after Orlando for unknown reasons.
• Orlando declares he will protest the discrimination.
• Oliver confronts Orlando with harsh words.
• Orlando asserts that Oliver deserves respect for being older.
• Oliver is not entitled to exploit him due to his younger age.
• Orlando says he is treated like a slave, not a brother.
• Oliver, angered, slaps Orlando, who then grabs Oliver by the neck.
• Adam intervenes and begs for patience.
• Orlando refuses to release Oliver until he promises the money allotted to him in their father's will.
• Orlando releases Oliver and departs.
• After Orlando and Adam leave, Oliver orders his servant Dennis to summon Charles, the Duke's wrestler.
• Oliver plans to teach Orlando a lesson and withhold his share of the family property.
• Charles is instructed to break Orlando's bones severely enough to kill him.
• Charles reveals that Frederick, the younger brother of the Senior Duke, has seized the throne.
• The Senior Duke has been exiled to the Forest of Arden with a few loyal lords.
• Charles assures Oliver that he will severely beat Orlando in the wrestling match in the Duke's palace lawn
• Oliver expresses his hatred for Orlando, despite Orlando being loved by others.
• Orlando is well-informed and cultured, although never formally educated.

Act I, Scene II

• The scene is set on the lawn near Duke Frederick's palace.
• Rosalind, the banished Duke's daughter, is sad, prompting Celia, Duke Frederick's daughter, to try and cheer her up.
• Celia is aware of the injustice done to Duke Senior by her father.
• Celia promises Rosalind she will restore the Dukedom to her after her father's death.
• Rosalind's spirits lift, and they discuss love.
• Celia criticizes Lady Fortune for unfairly favoring undeserving people.
• Rosalind agrees that Lady Fortune is especially unfair to women.
• Celia says Lady Fortune bestows beauty on unchaste women and chastity on those considered ugly.
• Touchstone, the court jester, arrives and is welcomed by Rosalind and Celia, informing them he is there to take them to the Duke.
• Le Beau tells them Charles, the champion wrestler, has defeated three opponents.
• Orlando will fight the court wrestler.
• Duke Frederick arrives with courtiers.
• Everyone expects Charles to easily defeat Orlando.
• Rosalind and Celia pity Orlando because he has to risk his life against a stronger opponent.
• Duke Frederick, Rosalind, and Celia try to dissuade Orlando from fighting Charles.
• Orlando is determined and asks for their good wishes.
• Orlando surprisingly defeats Charles quickly.
• Duke Frederick is unhappy to learn Orlando is the son of his enemy, Sir Rowland de Boys.
• Celia and Rosalind are shocked.
• Celia and Rosalind cheer up Orlando.
• Rosalind offers Orlando her necklace, but he can't speak due to disappointment.
• Le Beau advises Orlando to flee Duke's territory.
• He notes Rosalind is the daughter of the banished Duke, and Celia is the present Duke's daughter, and that Celia greatly loves Rosalind.
• Orlando is left thinking of Rosalind.

Act I, Scene III

• Rosalind and Celia speak about Orlando in Duke Frederick's palace.
• Rosalind expresses her love for Orlando.
• Duke Frederick enters, angry, and orders Rosalind to leave the court.
• He threatens her with death if she is found within twenty miles of the court after ten days.
• Rosalind asks what she has done, stating her loyalty.
• Duke Frederick declares that as the banished Duke's daughter, he cannot trust her.
• Celia insists on going with Rosalind.
• Duke Frederick calls Celia a fool.
• Celia decides to leave with Rosalind.
• Rosalind and Celia plans to go to the Forest of Arden to find the banished Duke.
• Rosalind will disguise herself as a man and Celia will pose as a poorer woman.
• Rosalind becomes Ganymede, and Celia becomes Aliena.
• They persuade Touchstone to join.
• They take jewels and gold.
• They leave the palace.
• The scene shifts to the Forest of Arden.

Act II, Scene I

• The scene shifts to the Forest of Arden.
• Duke Senior and his loyal lords are in voluntary exile.
• Duke Senior discusses their changed life in the forest.
• Duke Senior notes that the hardships in the forest are a blessing in disguise.
• He compares adversity to an ugly toad that bears a precious jewel.
• Duke Senior and his comrades enjoy a quiet life away from the public.
• They find "tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, sermons in stones, and good in everything."
• Duke Senior and his associates are happy despite the hardships.
• Duke Senior suggests hunting deer for meat.
• Jaques is mentioned as someone who moralizes on every issue.
• Jaques is saddened by the deer being killed in their natural home.
• Jaques thinks Duke Senior is a usurper, like Duke Frederick.
• Duke Frederick usurped Duke Senior's authority, and Duke Senior usurps the deer's dominion.

Act II, Scene II

• The scene goes to Duke Frederick's court.
• Duke Frederick learns his daughter and niece have fled, seemingly without being seen.
• Duke Frederick suspects his courtiers helped the girls flee.
• A courtier reports that Touchstone is also missing.
• The courtier notes that the princesses fled with Orlando.
• Duke Frederick orders his men to search for Orlando.
• If Orlando cannot be found, Oliver will be questioned about Orlando's location.

Act II, Scene III

• Orlando returns to his brother's house after winning the wrestling match.
• Adam warns Orlando that Oliver is vengeful and plans to kill him by setting the house on fire while Orlando sleeps.
• Adam overheard Oliver's plan.
• Orlando, distressed, asks Adam what to do, lamenting his lack of skills to earn a living.
• Adam offers Orlando five hundred crowns he saved while serving Sir Rowland, along with his service.
• Adam advises Orlando to leave the dangerous place.
• Orlando is impressed by Adam’s generosity.
• Adam wants nothing in return and urges Orlando to flee.
• Adam promises to serve Orlando loyally until his death.
• Adam wants to leave a house where the eldest is so resentful of the youngest.
• Orlando and Adam leave the city.
• Adam's devotion to Orlando is one of the play's finest emotions.

Act II, Scene IV

• Rosalind, Celia, and Touchstone arrive in the Forest of Arden.
• Rosalind is disguised as Ganymede, and Celia is disguised as Aliena.
• The three are tired from traveling.
• They rest under a tree on the outskirts of the forest.
• Shepherds Corin and Silvius appear.
• Silvius tells Corin he loves Phoebe, the shepherdess, but she does not love him back.
• Rosalind feels sympathy for Silvius.
• Rosalind speaks of her love for Orlando.
• Touchstone makes fun of her.
• Touchstone recalls falling in love with Jane Smile, kissing her washing bat and the cow's ladder.
• Touchstone mocks the absurdities people commit when in love.
• Celia asks Touchstone to ask Corin for food in exchange for gold.
• Corin states he is a servant.
• Corin says that his master is selling his cottage, sheep, and pasture.
• Rosalind decides to buy the property.
• Corin accepts the offer.
• Rosalind, Celia, and Touchstone find shelter, food, and identities as shepherds.

Act II, Scene V

• Amiens, Jaques, and others meet.
• Amiens sings a song and Jaques enjoyed it.
• Amiens sings "Under the green wood tree," praising forest life.
• Jaques hates pleasure and thinks thanks are meaningless.
• Amiens invites those who are unambitious to a happy and contented life in the open.
• Jaques parodies Amiens' song.
• The scene shows contrasting characters between Amiens and Jaques.

Act II, Scene VI

• Orlando and Adam arrive in the Forest of Arden after leaving the city.
• The journey has exhausted Adam, who is eighty years old.
• Adam tells Orlando he can't walk further.
• Adam is hungry.
• Orlando comforts Adam and promises to find food.
• Orlando does not want Adam to die of starvation.

Act II, Scene VII

• Duke Senior and his companions prepare to eat.
• Jaques is missing.
• Jaques was enjoying Amiens' songs, which surprises Duke Senior.
• Jaques has met a fool in the forest he is impressed with.
• Jaques comments that Touchstone is full of knowledge and information.
• Touchstone told Jaques that time keeps passing.
• Touchstone says women become conscious of their youth and beauty when they are young and beautiful.
• Jaques desires to be a professional fool, like Touchstone.
• Jaques says he could criticize anyone without offending them.
• Jaques would condemn people for their extravagance as a fool.
• Orlando bursts in.
• Orlando warns them not to touch the food until he and his aged companion are fed.
• Duke is unafraid and asked him in proper civility.
• Orlando is impressed with the Duke's kindness.
• Orlando says he is hungry.
• The Duke invites him to join them.
• Orlando tells them about Adam.
• The Duke lets Orlando bring Adam to the cave.
• The Duke assures him nothing will be eaten until they return.
• Jaques restarts his observations.
• Jaques speaks of the seven ages of man.
• Orlando returns with Adam.
• Duke Senior invites them to eat.
• Amiens sings a song.
• Orlando tells Duke tells that he is the son of Sir Rowland de Boys.
• Duke Senior is pleased to learn Orlando’s identity.
• Sir Rowland had been an intimate friend and a loyal courtier of Duke Senior.
• Orlando is welcomed to Duke Senior's banquet.

Act III, Scene I

• The scene is at Duke Frederick's court.
• Oliver is brought by Frederick's officials.
• Frederick questions him about Orlando.
• Oliver claims he doesn’t know where Orlando is
• Oliver told the Duke that he never loved Orlando.
• Duke Frederick thinks Oliver is trying to fool him.
• Duke Frederick orders Oliver's entire property and wealth to be seized.
• If Oliver does not find Orlando within twelve months his property will be forfeited.

Act III, Scene II

• Orlando is in the Forest of Arden with nothing to do.
• Orlando writes verses for Rosalind.
• Orlando carves Rosalind's name on trees.
• Touchstone and Corin appear.
• Corin and Touchstone disagree about different matters.
• Corin and Touchstone exchange thoughts on Corin's life as a shepherd, and Corin remarks that they are no match.
• Rosalind finds a paper hanging on a tree.
• Rosalind reads verses from the paper, writing praise of her beauty and virtue.
• Celia has found a sheet of paper, too.
• The new verse shares praise on Rosalind possessions of modesty, faithfulness, beauty and majesty.
• The writer also declares in these verses his decision that he will live and die as Rosalind's slave.
• Rosalind learns Orlando has feelings for her by writing verses in the forest of Arden.
• Rosalind is dressed as a man so, cannot act happy.
• The two cousins talk.
• Orlando and Jaques appear on the scene.
• The two girls hide themselves and overhear the conversation between the two men.
• Jaques does advise Orlando that he should not ruin the beauty of the trees by writing love songs on their barks.
• Orlando replies that Jaques should not ruin the beauty of his verses by reading them in the wrong spirit.
• Jaques remarks that Orlando's worst fault is that he is in love; Orlando replies that he would not exchange this fault with Jaques's best virtues.
• Rosalind returns and continues to play some tricks on Orlando
• He tells Celia that she would be playing Rosalind asks Orlando what hour of the day it is.
• Orlando replies that there are no clocks in the forest and therefore he cannot tell the time.
• The talk continues in this witty style. Then Orlando tells that it is he who has written love poems and carved the name of his beloved on the trees.
• Ganymede tells him that he does not look like a lover.
• Orlando tells him that his love for Rosalind is greater than his rhymes reveal.
• Ganymede tells Orlando that the madness of love can be cured if he accepts his perposal.
• He proposes a game
• Orlando is required to treat Ganymede as if he were Rosalind.
• Orlando says that he would not like to be cured.
• Ganymede asserts that he would cure Orlando if he would call him Rosalind and come everyday to his cottage and woo him as Rosalind.
• Orlando agrees.
• Ganymede cannot accept the term "good youth"

Act III, Scene III

• Touchstone has developed a friendship with Audrey.
• Audrey calls herself a chaste woman.
• Touchstone wants to marry her, not at the church.
• Oliver is at the next village and will perform the marriage.
• A guardian will give away Touchstone.
• Jaques will give away the woman in marriage to Touchstone.
• Touchstone doesn't want a priest too.
• Jaques promises to have Touchstone married by a proper priest.

Act III, Scene IV

• Rosalind and Celia are talking.
• Orlando did not come as promised.
• Rosalind teases that he is a hyprocritical lover.
• Also sharing that Orlando in the Duke senior attendance.
• Rosalind also met her father.
• Corin proposes to take Rosalind, and Celia to witness to Silvius and Phoebe

Act III, Scene V

• Silvius is seen kneeling before Phoebe.
• Phoebe unmoved to Silvius.
• Cilea and Corrin heard from a distance.
• Rosalind warns Phoebe for her pride as she is less a beauty.
• Phoebe tells Silvius to thank heaven.
• Phoebe kneels to Rosalind.
• She has lost her heart to Ganymede and tells that she wants to know more.
• Phoebe orders Silvius to deliver a letter to Ganymede.
• Simple Silvius believes Phoebe.

Act IV, Scene I

• Jaques and Rosalind meet and that Jaques likes sadness more than merry-making.
• While they are together, Orlando arrives and Jaques leaves.
• Orlando has apologized to Rosalind for being late.
• Rosalind believes a lover would be on time.
• Rosalind invites him to have love to her and settled.

Act IV, Scene II

• One of Duke Senior's lords has killed a deer.
• Jaques makes fun of this lord by saying that he deserves to be honored like a Roman conqueror and that the dead deer's horns should now be planted upon the lord's head to serve as a garland of victory.
• Jaques then asks another lord to sing a song even if he cannot sing it in tune.

Act IV, Scene III

• While Celia is waiting for Orlando, but there is no sign.
• Silvius arrives with a letter for Rosalind sent by Phoebe.
• He doesn't know what's in letters.
• Rosalind then reads it outloud.
• Phoebe then asks Silvius.
• She is then angry that the news was leaked out love to Ganymede.
• Silvus told a lie and Celia express sympathy as Rosalind defends Silvius.
• The reply that he needs Ganymede.

Act V, Scene I

• Touchstone to wait for a better price
• He says that William also claims to make promise to Audrey.
• Touchstone then puts a number of questions to William.
• Audrey asks William to leave her and also Touchstone as a flat defeat.
• Oliver shares he has fallen in love with Celia
• Oliver doesn't know identity
• Both wish to marry
• No wishes to return to his city and would transfer the entire property in this matter
• He says he could settle in the forest of Arden.
• They will tell Duke Senior and wedding

Act V, Scene III

• Touchstone assures Audrey that he is getting married.
• Audrey feels happy for this.
• Boys servants come in to start and and make songs.
• Touchstone says it was a foolish song instead

Act V, Scene IV

• Arragments for the marriage
• Inform senior for Gannymede
• To make Orlando marriage
• The Duke is on his way

Act V, Scene IV

• Phoebe repeat promise and no issue with this
• Gannymede, Celia then leaves
• A moment with the father/ daughter relationship
• Orlando knows and the uncle knows
• The gather for the
• It was with Jaques.
• It will mean for the whole thing with this