As You Like It Family Quotes Page 3

Page (3 of 4) Quotes: 1 2 3 4

How we cite the quotes:
(Act.Scene.Line). Line numbers correspond to The Norton Shakespeare, second edition, published in 2008.

Quote #7

OLIVER
O that your Highness knew my heart in this!
I never lov'd my brother in my life.
FREDERICK
More villain thou. (3.1.2)

You know things are bad when even Duke Frederick thinks you are a villain. We should also point out that Duke Frederick is being a total hypocrite here. After all, he snagged his own brother's title and then booted him and Rosalind out of his dukedom.

Quote #8

ROSALIND
I met the duke yesterday and had much question with
him: he asked me of what parentage I was; I told
him, of as good as he; so he laughed and let me go.
But what talk we of fathers, when there is such a
man as Orlando? (3.4.10)

Love-struck Rosalind shows that when a person falls in love, familial ties and loyalties can quickly fade into the background. Because Orlando is in the Forest of Arden, Rosalind is so NOT interested in talking about her encounter with her exiled father, who she hasn't seen in a really long time. We also notice that, once Rosalind starts spending time with dreamy Orlando, her relationship with her BFF/cousin Celia fades into the background. Check out "Quotes: Love" for more on this.

Quote #9

Jaques [de Boys]
Duke Frederick, hearing how that every day
Men of great worth resorted to this forest,
Address'd a mighty power; which were on foot,
In his own conduct, purposely to take
His brother here and put him to the sword:
And to the skirts of this wild wood he came;
Where meeting with an old religious man,
After some question with him, was converted
Both from his enterprise and from the world,
His crown bequeathing to his banish'd brother,
And all their lands restored to them again
That were with him exiled. This to be true,
I do engage my life. (5.4.1)

It's a good thing As You Like It is a comedy and not a tragedy. Otherwise, it's not likely that Duke Frederick would suddenly and miraculously "convert" from a usurper and would-be-murderer to a repentant brother who is willing to return his older bro's dukedom.

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