Character Comparisons in "As You Like It"

As I finished up "As You Like It" I couldn't help but see a glaring similarity between the brotherly relationship of Orlando and Oliver and then Duke Frederick and Duke Senior. Both sets of brothers have a rocky relationship, beginning in Act 1. Duke Senior has already been banished by his brother and Orlando is driven out to the forest by his brother's actions against him. Senior and Oliver both hunt down their brothers in order to kill them and get rid of the threat. However, the most interesting similarity to me is the conversion stories of both "bad" brothers.

As we have discussed in class, Oliver's conversion story is discussed in great detail in the play. It occurs in Act 4, Scene 3. It involves the snake wrapped around his neck, the lioness stalking him, and Orlando acting as the loyal brother and saving Oliver's life. This whole experience leads Oliver into realizing that he should make up with his long lost brother. The conversion story of Duke Frederick was much simpler and more straightforward. It was just mentioned at the very end that a religious man had talked to him and that he was converted into giving Duke Senior back his rightful land. This story is less metaphorical, however it ends in the same result. These two conversion stories link Oliver and Frederick.

Orlando and Duke Senior are both portrayed as the sympathetic brothers by Shakespeare. Orlando is the masculine wrestler who was wronged by his brother and was not the inheritor of his father's power. Duke Senior was usurped by Duke Frederick and was banished to the forrest without having actually done anything wrong. Shakespeare appears to want us as the readers to root for these two brothers. Both of these brothers seem to be portrayed as the "good ones" and end up the victors in their situations.

Overall I just find it very interesting that these two sets of brothers have such strong similarities, both in how they relate to each other and what happens throughout the play.