Ms. Peifer
English 10 IB, Hr 4
12 March 2009
As You Like It: Act 2
In Act Two, Orlando is a very devoted friend. He is now in the forrest with Adam and is committed to Adam's well being through the entire act. The significance of them being in the forest is that it shows Adam's commitment to take care of Orlando as well. This commitment and the fact that Adam helped Orlando escape from Oliver's plot to kill him strengthened the bond between them and Orlando tells Adam that they will "go along together, and ere we have thy youthful wages spent, we'll light upon some settled low content" (2.3.67-69). Because of this Orlando wants to repay Adam and help him as best he can and this includes when Adam is starving. His goal becomes making sure that Adam survives and this is evident because he says, "If this uncouth forest yield anything savage, I will either be food for it or bring it for food to thee" (2.6.6-7). This quote shows how deep their connection truly is that Orlando is willing to risk his life to save Adam's. Orlando ends up securing food for himself and Adam by threatening Duke Senior and Jacques, who he met in the forest. He tells them, "He dies that touches any of this fruit till I and my affairs are answered" (2.7.103-104). Although this is rude and ungentlemanly, Orlando thought it was necessary to help Adam and when he found out it wasn't he immediately apologized, saying, "Pardon me, I pray you. I thought that all things had been savage here, and therefore put on the countenance of stern commandment" (2.7.111-114).
This display of friendship helps Orlando towards his overall goal of becoming a gentleman. Being a gentleman includes doing honorable things and taking care of one's friends. Orlando achieves this goal and demonstrates that he is a gentleman when he says, "I will bear thee to some shelter, and thou shalt not die for lack of a dinner if there live anything in this desert" (2.6.15-17). This is honorable because it shows he is going to do everything he can to save his friend's life.
Aside from Adam, who Orlando has shown he has a close bond with, he has some relationships that aren't as good. His relationship with his brother Oliver is not as good. He tells the reader that Oliver is "of a diverted blood and bloody brother" (2.3.38), meaning Oliver is violent and they don't even consider each other to be brothers.
2 comments:
perhaps instead of saying that Orlando ''tells the reader'' you should have said ''tells the audience'' as As You Like it is meant to be seen rather than read.
otherwise this post was very helpful to me, thanks.
k
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