As You Like It LRJ #5

Aaron Fernandez

Ms. Peifer 

10IB English 5th Hour

March 16, 2009

In the final Act of As You Like It, people of the Court come to realize that there is nothing wrong with being form the Country.  That even if they are not Courtly educated in manners, and in education that it does not mean that the people in the Country are by any means inferior, or lesser beings.  They have realized that they are honest and modest people who try and live life to the fullest, with the most mannered lifestyle.  The people in the Court are falling in love with those who appear to be or are form the Country, like Celia, and Oliver, and Touchstone and Audrey.  They have formed a bond with those of the Country and now do not neglect the those who are form the Country.  Country versus Court was such an important theme throughout the entire play, but now that has faded away and become an alliance not a despise for one another.

Touchstone who criticized the Country for what seems like the entire play fell in love with one who is form the Country who is a shepherd.  He even looks upon those who have been brought up in the forest, and who take pride in being from there.  He first asks William, "Was born i' th' forest here?"(5.1.23).  Then he goes on to saying, "'Thank God' A good answer"(5.1.25).  Touchstone now realizes that he was being ignorant to those who lived in the Country, he finds himself liking those who are from there, he finds them interesting.  He sees the wrong it criticizing those who are form the Forest but now sees the wrong in his ways, and finds that there was nothing wrong with living in the Country that it was just a different was of living.  Those who do live in the Country are very proud to say so, and they see now that the Court has become more accepting of the Country people. 

Orlando now comes to realize that the people in the Country as well educated as those who are in the Court he even says that they are very wise, and knowledgeable.  He says to Duke Senior, "But, my good lord, this boy is forest- born And hath been tutored in the rudiments Of many desperate studies by his uncle"(5.4.31-33).  Orlando sees that Ganymede is very well mannered, and that in the end he has helped Orlando to be confident in his love to Rosalind.  Ganymede is seen as someone who is strong and that he is very wise, and that is why Orlando now sees the forest people as people who are helpful, and they are good people.

The people of the Court now have a new found love for those of the Country.  They see that they are not inferior but equals who just have a different way of life.  They see that there is nothing wrong with living in the forest, and that they are many good people who do live there.  Many of who they fall in love with.  The Court and the Country are not so opposed to much as when the play started, and that was Shakespeare's lesson to live in one's shoes before who criticize them, and to learn all there is to know about them before one goes on to judge.