As You Like It LRJ #1

Ryan Ellis
Ms. Peifer
10IB English
3/17/09
LRJ #1

In act one; Orlando presents himself as a character with great distinction. He is the younger son of the powerful Sir Rowland De Bois and he proves himself to be a loyal person. He shows great affection towards his father’s name. “I am more proud to be Sir Rowland’s youngest son,/ His youngest son, and would not change that calling/ To be adopted heir to Frederick” (1.2.228-230).

Orlando’s older brother Oliver is the heir to their father’s estate, and with this is he great power. Despite his great wealth he refuses to send Orlando to receive a gentlemen’s education because he fears Orlando’s superior wits. It is this education that Orlando longs for. Although he is suppressed by his older brother he is not regretful to being the youngest son. Orlando’s brother Oliver has an unexplained dislike for his brother centered around his fear of his brother being superior in strength and wits. He makes his brother seem villainous to justify his hate for him. “…or if he do not mightily grace/ himself on thee , he will practice against thee by/ poison, entrap, thee by some treacherous device/ and never leave thee till he hath ta’en thy life by some indirect means or other”(1.1.148-150).

In the first act Orlando takes part in a wrestling match in which he is victorious. There he meets Rosalind and is immediately drawn by her. It becomes love at first sight. “Oh, heavenly Rosalind!” (1.3.290). He addresses her privately as heavenly because of his immediate love and longing for her. He sets himself to win Rosalind. His goals shift from his gentlemen’s education to the pursuit of Rosalind. It is her and only her he wants at the end of the act.