The present paper attempts to explore the romantic elements in Shakespeare’s As You Like It. The play embodies the spirit and characteristics of romantic comedy as a literary mode. Set primarily in the idyllic Forest of Arden, the play presents love as a central theme expressed through various relationships, including romantic love, friendship, and familial bonds. The paper highlights how Shakespeare blends idealism with realism by portraying love as both transformative and complex. The study examines key romantic conventions such as disguise, exile, pastoral setting, and the triumph of love over obstacles. Characters like Rosalind and Orlando represent the dynamic nature of romantic love, while the use of wit, humor, and poetic expression enhances the emotional depth of the narrative. Additionally, the play’s resolution through multiple marriages reinforces harmony and restoration, which are essential features of romantic comedy. By analyzing these elements, the paper argues that As You Like It not only reflects traditional romantic ideals but also questions and reshapes them through irony and character development. The study concludes that Shakespeare’s treatment of romance is both celebratory and critical, making the play a rich text for understanding the evolution of romantic themes in literature.
Kumbhar et al. (Fri,) studied this question.
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