As You Like It LRJ #3

Ryan Ellis
Ms. Peifer
English 10IB
3/17/09
LRJ #3

In act three the forest of Arden takes a strong hold on Orlando. The forests mysterious powers drive him mad with love. His immense love for Rosalind is uncontainable, so in his longing for Rosalind he chooses to carve poems of his love into the trees. “From the east to Western Ind/ No jewel is like Rosalind./ Her worth being mounted on the wind”(3.2.88-90). His love for Rosalind once again shifts his main goal. His goal of gentlemen status is but a small thought for a large portion of this act. He shifts his main goal to learning how to woo Rosalind to become his love. His two major goals of Gentlemen status and the longing of Rosalind begin to see a small amount of overlap.

In his quest to woo Rosalind, Orlando meets the character Ganymede, who really is Rosalind in disguise. Although Orlando is not aware that Ganymede is Rosalind, an immediate trust between the two is seen. Ganymede offers to “cure” Orlando of his rampant love. “I would cure you if you/ would but call me Rosalind and come everyday to/ my cote and woo me”(3.3.40-43). Orlando does not question the odd suggestion of Ganymede and he eagerly accepts the odd proposal. “Now, by the faith of my love, I will./ Tell me where it is”(3.3.44-45). Orlando is so madly in love with Rosalind that this seemly insane idea is so very appealing to him.

In addition to meeting Ganymede, Orlando has an encounter with Jaques. Orlando disapproves of Jaques’ melancholy style. “I do desire we may better be strangers”(3.2.263). Orlando and Jaques both agree that they should not talk to each other again, as they both share entirely different views and disapprove of each other’s actions. The meeting of these two characters is short lived and they no longer wish to meet again.