ey
are still quite detached from the active elements of the play. Sc. vi.
shows us how far Orlando and Adam have gone in their flight, and sc.
vii. presents again the good Duke's court, develops further the
personality of Jaques, and prepares us, through his conversation about
the fool whom he had met in the forest, for the contact of one of the
threads of action with the element of inaction represented by this
good Duke's forest court, while in the sudden breaking in upon them of
Orlando it is brought into contact with another of the threads of
action.
III
LOVE IN THE FOREST OF ARDEN
At the opening of Act III. what results have been brought about by the
action so far? Everybody in the play except Oliver and the bad Duke
has arrived in the Forest of Arden. In sc. i. of Act III. the hatred
of the Duke is still active as a force, and Oliver through this means
is also sent off to finally bring up in the Forest of Arden. The
Duke's attitude as a motive force having worked itself out in its
relation to Orlando and Rosalind, the emotional cause of action in the
love of Rosalind and Orlando is free to develop, and the remainder of
Act III. is devoted chiefly to the presentation of the situation
between the lovers, which, owing to the disguise assumed by Rosalind,
gives rise to the charming inconsistencies attending the wooing of a
proxy Rosalind who is in reality Rosalind herself. Around these
central lovers, whose characters Shakespeare unfolds, revolve other
interesting personalities. Touchstone meets his fate in Audrey. Phebe
still scorns Corin and perversely falls in love with Ganymede. The
action is only advanced to the extent that Rosalind learns the state
of Orlando's mind while he still remains in ignorance as to hers.
IV
HATRED BECOMES LOVE IN ARDEN
Are there any fresh elements or developments in Act IV.?
Sc. i. merely continues the love-making of Act III. Sc. ii. gives
another glimpse of the good Duke's court; in sc. iii. the love of
Phebe bears fruit in a letter to Ganymede, and Oliver finds his way to
the forest. The bad Duke's intentions toward Orlando in sending Oliver
after him are, however, frustrated by the sudden change of heart
against a bad Duke is a good Duke. Contrast their actions throughout
the play. Contrast also the two brothers, Orlando and Oliver. What are
the resemblances between the characters of Oliver and Duke
Frederick?--between Orlando and the banished Duke? Is Orlando's
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