Shakespeare For Beginners by Brandon Toropov

Author:Brandon Toropov
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: For Beginners
Published: 2013-04-09T00:00:00+00:00

HERE LIES THE SCENE?

Duke Frederick’s court and thereabouts; the forest of Arden

HAT HAPPENS?

The rightful Duke has been living in exile with his loyal followers in the Forest of Arden, having been unjustly deprived of his dominions by his younger brother Frederick. As it happens, discord mars the relations of another pair of brothers: Orlando, the youngest son of Sir Roland de Boys, has been kept at home and deprived of the education he considers his right. While preparing to take part in a wrestling match with the fearsome champion Charles, Orlando is urged by Celia, the daughter of Duke Frederick, and Rosalind, the daughter of the exiled Duke, not to risk his life. Orlando wins the match, even though Charles had been encited by Oliver to do him grievous bodily harm. Frederick does not congratulate Orlando on his victory, but because of his past friendship with the exiled Duke, treats him rudely. Later, he banishes Rosalind. She resolves to disguise herself as a boy, and, accompanied by Celia and the clown Touchstone, she makes her way to the Forest of Arden. Oliver is in high wrath aga inst his brother. Orlando, too, flees for the Forest of Arden, accompanied by Adam, his old servant. Rosa lind and Celia dress as shepherds. Orlando draws his sword on the Duke’s followers and demands something to eat, but the force is needless; he is persuaded to join the friendly band of hunters, who are happy with their pastoral lifestyle. (Happy, that is, with the exception of the cynical Jaques, who could be discontented with just about anything.) Duke Frederick, under the impression that the two young women have run away with Orlando, orders Oliver to deliver up his younger brother. Orlando, in love with Rosalind, hangs the poems he has composed for her on the trees of the forest. Later, disguised as a male shepherd, Rosalind pretends to rail against the very idea of love, and promises to cure Orlando of his love-sickness. All Orlando must do is woo “him” exactly as he would Rosalind. In her guise as the shepherd, Rosalind encounters the shepherdess Phebe, pinxsed over by one Silviue. Phebe falls in love with the person she believes to be the young man of her dreams — Rosalind. In the meantime, the clown Touchstone has discovered the charms of a country wench named Audrey. Orlando, in order to be delivered from his bout of love-sickness, woos the “shepherd” as though “he” were Rosalind, which in fact he is. Later, Orlando saves his brother from an attack by a snake and a lion, and is detained from his appointed meeting with the “shepherd.” Oliver offers the disguised Rosalind a bloody handkerchief as proof of the dangerous encounter. Oliver and Celia fall in love. Rosalind, still in disguise, promises the pining Orlando to cause Rosalind to appear by magic. She also fends off the affections of Phebe, making her promise to marry Silvius in the event she decides not to marry the “shepherd.” The next day, Rosalind appears dressed in her own clothing before the Duke and his followers.

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