Close Analysis on Act 2 Scene $ focusing on tone, character, dramatic action and language

The use of stock characters in this scene further develops on the pastoral romance of the scene as well as the play. Silvius is the patrician lover, who idolizes and worships Phebe, his part in the play is only to develop the theme of love and romance, and as seen in this scene, it is his only contribution to the dialogue. Phebe is another stock character in this scene as well as play. Although the audience in this scene does not formally meet her, the audience can infer from Silvuis’ desperate tone that she is the disdainful fair maiden of the play, as Corin mentions that she ‘scorn[s]’ Silvius ‘still.  This form of love, is a popular dramatic technique, Shakespeare basically develops courtly love in this scene, as Silvius’ love is ideal, sexless, and the woman is placed on a pedestal. Furthermore, Corin, another stock character, is the sage, the wise old man imparting wisdom on the denizens of Arden. Shakespeare’s stock characters strengthen the themes in As You Like It , and through the themes developed by the shepherds  and shepherdesses, the plot is given direction and is better understood by the audience.

Despite all the romance that is in Arden, this scene also demonstrates the realities of this pastoral setting which is a juxtaposition to the typical idealization that the audience might think of. It first begins with Rosalind, Celia and Touchstone being exhausted when first arrive in Arden, the journey to the golden world was not as romantic as they had made it out to be when they were leaving the court. Touchstone even exclaims the ‘When [he] was at home [he] was in a better place’. He is questioning as to what he is truly doing in Arden. The fact that upon their arrival in Arden, they do not recognize its sheer beauty and magnificence, already begins to chip away at the idealization of the pastoral setting that the audience is expecting. This is further emphasized when Corin, the wise old shepherd, his tone of exasperation and helplessness, when explaining how he is ‘shepherd to another man’ and describing his own poverty in the Forest of Arden. Corin’s words are written in verse, giving his words more weight and conviction. He basically points out that ‘there is nothing’ to truly earn for the working shepherds of Arden. Shakespeare chooses to highlight the political issues of the denizens of Arden, which is completely unconventional considering that the pastoral setting should be completely amazing and free of problems. Shakespeare probably uses these political issues to highlight the issues of his time, criticizing the political system of the time. Making it clear through not exposing the greed only in the court, but in Arden as well.

In totality, this scene demonstrates how beautifully Shakespeare uses conventional methods to convey the theme of romance in As You Like It, but also manages to intertwine it with atypical descriptions of the setting to subtly highlight the political issues of the time. This is achieved through his skilled use of diction, description as well as form.