Sarcasm

Sarcasm is used throughout Shakespeare's As You Like It. Shakespeare's Touchstone is a perfect vessel to deliver social commentary through sarcasm. Throughout the plays sarcasm is used to comment on society, societies rules, and those who do not have a sense of humor. During the play we encounter many different characters who do not understand that many jokes are being cast their way and are going straight over their head. Because of this the readers of the play understand the necessity of the jester who makes light of everything while he continues to point out the absurdities around them.

In the plays Act III Scene 2 Touchstone's potential is displayed as he describes the life in the courts compared to that of the country. In this scene Touchstone mocks the life in both cases while describing the absurdity of life in the courts and the different manners of both. During this encounter between Touchstone and Corin the sarcasm also enhances that fact that both lives are not better or worse than the other but they have there own draw backs and benefits.

"Those that are good manners at the court are as ridiculous in the country as the behavior of the country is most mockable at the court" (ActIII, Scene II, Line 40-42)

Corin's discovery while defending against Touchstone's claim, we can see that their is much truth in these words and that neither man is better than the other for their different homes, mannerisms, or morals.

Orlando and Oliver

I think an important part of Act 1 is what we see of the relationship between Orlando and Oliver. Right off the bat we can see that Orlando and Oliver do not have the best relationship from Orlando's rant at Adam about the treatment he receives from Orlando. In this rant we can gather that not only does Oliver treat him like an animal, but also refuses to give him an education and the other things that their father left for him, while the third bother gets to enjoy a proper education. The relationship is further show to have problems when Orlando overpowers Oliver holding onto his arm and throat. Because of the physical power that Orlando has over Oliver it is apparent that Oliver see Orlando as a threat, this does nothing to help their relationship. Oliver proceeds to the lie to Charles about warning Orlando about the upcoming wrestling match, and does not seem phased and even encourages Charles to kill Orlando. This relationship is important to Act 1 because of the power invested in this relationship, through the jealousy and fear that Oliver has for Orlando and the sheer physical power that Orlando has over Oliver.I feel that this relationship is mirrored in the relationship between the two dukes. because of the similarities of the relationships I fell that these relationship will play a major role throughout the duration of the play. This relationship is also important to the story because of the new relationship that the brother have in the end as well as the growing relationships between them and the other characters in the play. Also I feel that the relationship between the brother is interesting when compared with the relationship of the girls, Rosalind and Celia. I think that this comparison is important because of the complete opposite relationships that they have, hate (between Orlando and Oliver) and love (between Rosalind and Celia). I also find this interesting because of the relationship that they have family wise because Orlando and Oliver are closer in the terms of a family tree but are separate emotionally, while Celia and Rosalind and only cousins but are really tight emotionally.

Characters from Act 1

Misunderstandings

Ian Johnston’s “Dramatic Structure: Comedy and Tragedy,” describes the differences and similarities between Comedies and Tragedies. As Johnston begins he immediately mentions disorder, and how disorder plays a major role in both dramas. Throughout Abbott and Costello’s performances there are misunderstandings and confusion, this is predominantly the humor that is found along with a little slap stick. The clip above displays both the misunderstanding and confusion that is described in the lecture by Johnston and the slapstick that the confusion proceeds’ to cause. The humor is also found in the ridiculous changes the singer (Costello) blindly makes until he finally falls off the stage. As Johnston’s lecture goes on, he informs us that comedies end with everyone becoming aware of what actually happened and rejoicing, in the case of many Abbott and Costello performances Costello never really becomes aware of his actions and therefore continues the comedy.