Duke Senior is Rosalind’s father and the rightful duke of the land. Before the action of the play, his brother, Duke Frederick, banished him from the land, forcing him to seek exile in the Forest of Arden. He lives there with faithful lords and attendants and generally keeps a positive outlook, embracing his circumstances, however unfortunate. His kindness toward Orlando and Adam demonstrates his generosity. The goodness of his character is rewarded in the end of the play by his daughter’s return and Duke Frederick’s renewal of his rule.
Duke Senior Quotes in As You Like It
The As You Like It quotes below are all either spoken by Duke Senior or refer to Duke Senior. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Act 2, Scene 1
Quotes
Are not these woods more free from peril than the envious court? Here feel we not the penalty of Adam.
Related Characters:
Duke Senior (speaker)
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 5, Scene 4
Quotes
Play, music, and you brides and bridegrooms all, with measure heaped in joy, to th’measures fall.
Related Characters:
Duke Senior (speaker)
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
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Duke Senior Character Timeline in As You Like It
The timeline below shows where the character Duke Senior appears in As You Like It. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Act 1, Scene 1
...see him. Charles informs Oliver that Duke Frederick has usurped and banished his older brother, Duke Senior , whom several lords have since willingly joined in exile. He adds that Rosalind, the...
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Act 2, Scene 1
In the Forest of Arden, Duke Senior addresses the lords who have joined him in exile. He remarks on the sweetness, freedom,...
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Duke Senior suggests that they go hunt for venison, and the First Lord agrees, though adds that...
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Act 2, Scene 5
...he could “suck melancholy” out of any song.) Before finishing the song, Amiens mentions that Duke Senior has been looking for Jaques all day, and Jaques admits that he’s been avoiding him.
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Act 2, Scene 7
Duke Senior is saying of someone that he must have become an animal, because he cannot be...
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...his ambition to have “a motley coat.” He elaborates that, when he becomes a fool, Duke Senior must still consider Jaques to be wise and that Jaques must be granted great liberty...
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Duke Senior accuses Jaques of being hypocritical in pointing out the sins of others, having himself committed...
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Orlando enters and orders, “eat no more!” With drawn sword he demands food. Duke Senior and Jaques are taken aback, and the former inquires if the intruder is distressed or...
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Duke Senior attests that they have seen better days and have been to church, and that they...
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Duke Senior and Jaques comment on how their own unhappiness is matched by the unhappy situations of...
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Duke Senior , having recognized Orlando as the son of Sir Rowland de Boys, tells Orlando that...
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Act 3, Scene 4
Rosalind then tells Celia of having met with Duke Senior the day before and of him laughing at her claim that she was of a...
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Act 5, Scene 3
Touchstone and Audrey speak excitedly about their marriage. Two of Duke Senior ’s pages enter and sing a song for them. They sing of love in springtime,...
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Act 5, Scene 4
Duke Senior , Amiens, Jaques, Orlando, Oliver, and Celia (as Aliena) enter. In response to Duke Senior’s...
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...on to suggest that every level of retort could be avoided but the Lie Direct. Duke Senior praises Touchstone for his wit, remarking that “he uses his folly like a stalking horse,...
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...with Celia and Rosalind at his side, dressed now as themselves. Rosalind presents herself to Duke Senior and to Orlando, both of whom express some disbelief at her appearance; the former remarks...
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...his conversion, he decided to return his crown to his banished brother, restore all of Duke Senior ’s lands, and go to live in a monastery. Duke Senior welcomes Jaques de Boys,...
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...himself to be suited “for other than for dancing measures,” and says his goodbyes to Duke Senior , Orlando, Oliver, Silvius, and Touchstone. Jaques exits and all the other characters, except for...
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