Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in As You Like It, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Deception, Disguise, and Gender
Romantic Love
Country vs. City
Love and Rivalry Between Relatives
Fools and Foolishness
Summary
Analysis
Duke Frederick instructs Oliver to go find Orlando, wherever he is. He says that if Oliver does not bring Orlando to him, dead or alive, within a year that he will seize all of Orlando's lands and belongings. Oliver promises that his heart is very much in the task, because he never did love his brother. Duke Frederick calls Oliver “more villain” and tells him that his officers will make an inventory of his estate while he is gone on his task.
Following the warm-spirited union between the good Duke Senior and Orlando, comes this bitter meeting between their evil brothers, Oliver and Duke Frederick. And as befits their different natures: Duke Senior kindly and openly invites Orlando to join with him; Duke Frederick uses schemes and threats of power to compel Oliver to do what he wants him to do.
Themes
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