Life in the Court was a place of corruption and, sometimes anarchy as shown by the usurption of Duke Seniors throne by his younger brother Duke Frederick. Usurption of a throne shows a total disregard for all laws and therefore, can make people feel as though they can do the same. However after banishing Duke Senior, Duke Frederick instilled a rule by fear attitude. This put lawfulness back into the court and put an end to the anarchy as everyone became scared to commit a crime because of the dire consequences. Also, the Court although being superior in many ways to life in the country also shows a bad side. A prime example of this is displayed by Oliver de Boys towards his brother Orlando at the start of the play in Act 1 Scene 1 where Oliver threatens to burn down Orlandos house. Also Oliver refutes his recently deceased father’s wishes and does not grant younger brother Orlando an education like his father asked in his will. This displays the negative, arrogant side of Court life and in this way, it is quite inferior to life in the country.
However, the Court was also a place of sophisticatication, in terms of language and attire, Touchstone constantly shows the superiority of language from the Court by bamboozling Audrey with witty phrases, speeches and remarks that constantly leave her dumbfounded and, in my opinion go some way towards making her fall in love with him.
'I do not know what poetical is. Is it honest in deed and word? Is it a true thing?'
A contrast between Touchstone's sophisticated language and Audrey's simpleness is: (Touchstone) 'A material fool.' and Audrey's simple reply: 'In the light of this, his words seem quite cruel.'
Audrey's reply Touchstone's comment shows truly just how simple she is. Attire in the Court also showed its superiority over the country as attire in the Court was more colourful, colours showed status in the Court, there were also more materials readily available from the court as they had the methods of creating different materials. Whereas, on the other hand attire in the country was very dull, with colours such as blacks, greys, browns, dark blues and sometimes reds were the only colours that were readily available. However, colour did not denote status in the country as status did not matter and everyone in the country just wore garments that they could fashion from what little materials they could gather. This was shown in a recent performance of the play at The Globe, where the costumes of Court dwellers showed their status, but those who lived in the country had plain dull coloured costumes.
On the contrary to the corrupt life in the Court, life in the country was peaceful and idyllic. It is always the season of summer and is a world without seasons, thus making it a paradise, hence why I referred to it as the Garden of Eden in my introduction. There are many reasons why the country is referred to as a 'paradise' and as being 'idyllic.' In the country there is no real danger or death except from the rare occasion when a mountain lion attacks and when a hart or doe is killed due to mans incessant need for food. The only small problem with country life portrayed in this play script is hunger. Although the forest is to be seen as idyllic, as with everything there is always to be some negative points, which in this case is hunger and the famished feelings that it ladens upon those it affects. In this particular play script it ladens itself upon Adam, Orlando's loyal servant and Celia, daughter of Duke Frederick. Act 2 Scene 6 represents this ideology very well as it shows Adam and the weight hunger has ladened upon his shoulders and how it affects him:
'Master, I can go no further. O, I die for food. Here I lie down and measure out my grave. Farewell dear master.'
Hunger can have adverse effects on people, even those that it does not directly affect. A prime example of this is upon Orlando, Adam's master as Orlando states that:
‘If this uncouth forest yield anything savage I will either be food for it or bring it for food to thee.’
This shows the devotion and the strong- willedness that hunger has brought out in Orlando. However, hunger also brings out a bad side in Orlando as in Act 2 Scene 7 Orlando disturbs a peaceful meal that Duke Senior and his compatriots are about to partake in. He enters with sword drawn and speaks and acts in a very aggressive, intimidating manner.
‘Forbear and eat no more till necessity be served.’
The country, which in this particular case means the Forest of Arden, is described as a place that portrays and exerts tranquility. A good example of this is when Amiens sings under a tree, he sings of ‘Mans ingratitude.’ His song is one of cheerful and lighthearted demeanour and this befits life within the forest:
‘Heigh- ho, the holly! This life is most jolly!’
The country, however, although being seen as inferior to the court in retrospect, is actually, in most cases, just as civilized as the Court itself. This is mostly due to Duke Senior and his followers in the Forest of Arden. They bring an air of class to the country with their manners, attire, attitudes and the way they live. They also bring some civility which is displayed at Duke Seniors feast in the forest. They display manners and mannerisms that depict their courtly past. An example of this is when Orlando disrupts the feast in a fierce rage with sword drawn. Duke Senior shows civility and calms Orlando down with words and actions. Whereas, normally in the country, if this had happened then there would almost certainly had been a scuffle erupt.
‘More than your force move us to gentleness.
Sit down and feed, and welcome to our table.’
In conclusion life in the Court and life in the country were two very contrasting things with the court showing sophistication, affluence, kindness to a certain degree, civil behavior but it also shows a side of corruption, violence and jealousy. The country displays peace, harmony, beauty but also shows a side of simpleness and lack of intelligence within its inhabitants
By Joshua Alexander Evans
