Consider the importance of family relationships in 'As You Like It'. Explain how Shakespeare presents various family relationships. Comment on what the play suggests about conflict or harmony between generations.

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Nikki Burton L6KM

Consider the importance of family relationships in ‘As You Like It’.

  • Explain clearly how Shakespeare presents various family relationships.
  • Comment on what the play suggests about conflict or harmony between generations.

‘As You Like It’ depends largely on the portrayal of relationships for an array of purposes; the relationships provide comedy for the audience, and induce empathy and various other emotions.  There are many family relationships in ‘As You Like It’, varying from parent and child bonds to husband and wife commitments – there are many new such commitments at the end of the play.  

Firstly, I shall discuss the importance of the father-daughter relationships between Duke Senior and Rosalind, and Duke Frederick and Celia.  The second scene of the play details Rosalind mourning her banished father, which makes the audience realise the caring qualities in her nature:

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“Unless you could teach me to forget a banished father, you must not learn me how to remember any extraordinary pleasure.”

However, her loss is soon forgotten when she meets Orlando.  This represents that young adults are attached to their parents to a certain extent, but are often forgotten when other interests come into play, for example love interests.  Critics could argue that this suggests that this family relationship is not particularly important in ‘As You Like It’.  However, this relationship allows the play to progress, when Rosalind and Celia set out into the Forest of Arden to ...

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