Duke Frederick is the brother of Duke Senior and the usurper of his throne. While he initially allows Rosalind, Duke Senior’s daughter, to remain in the company of his own daughter, Celia, he then forces her, too, to leave court, on a seeming whim. Then, when he finds that Celia is missing and might be with Orlando, he forces Oliver to bring Orlando back to court, at the threat of death. Frederick is a forceful ruler, who often seems to assert his power just because he can. In the end, however, he undergoes a spiritual transformation after meeting a religious man on the road, and gives the dukedom back to Duke Senior, its deserving holder.
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Duke Frederick Character Timeline in As You Like It
The timeline below shows where the character Duke Frederick appears in As You Like It. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Act 1, Scene 1
...Charles, the duke’s wrestler, who has been waiting to see him. Charles informs Oliver that Duke Frederick has usurped and banished his older brother, Duke Senior, whom several lords have since willingly...
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Act 1, Scene 2
The upcoming opponent, Orlando, enters with Duke Frederick , Charles, and various attendants, and Celia remarks on how young Orlando looks. Duke Frederick...
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Before an audience of Duke Frederick and the sisters, Charles and Orlando commence the match. Charles is thrown, leaving Orlando the...
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...daughter of the duke. Le Beau tells him it is Celia, but also reveals that Duke Frederick has recently taken a dislike to Rosalind because she is the banished duke’s daughter. He...
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Act 1, Scene 3
Duke Frederick enters and orders Rosalind to leave the court. He threatens her with death if she...
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...is banished, she will go with her, maintaining her refusal to leave Rosalind’s side. When Duke Frederick leaves, Celia proposes that they disguise themselves as peasants and go seek Rosalind’s father in...
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Act 2, Scene 1
...wounded stag. Jaques, the Lord recounts, considers hunters to be even worse “usurpers, tyrants” than Duke Frederick because hunters kill animals in their “native dwelling place.” Duke Senior, desiring to console him,...
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Act 2, Scene 2
The scene begins with Duke Frederick asking if anyone has seen his daughter and niece. The First Lord reports that Celia’s...
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Act 3, Scene 1
Duke Frederick instructs Oliver to go find Orlando, wherever he is. He says that if Oliver does...
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Act 5, Scene 4
Jaques de Boys enters and reports that Duke Frederick , who had been on his way to the Forest of Arden fight with his...
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...return to the royal court, except for Jaques who announces that he will go join Duke Frederick in his life of contemplation at the monastery. He explains that he feels himself to...
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