'As You Like It' Shakespeare blog for language
As You Like It with its very comical humor and unique characters, makes a very structured and well known play, many characters have a strong meaning and symbolism not to mention the many poetical and literal devices that Shakespeare used throughout the piece.As i noticed throughout reading and performing certain scenes within the play, i realised most of this play is in blanc verse and unrhymed iambic pentameter. However Shakespeare tends to have a rule to which is the nobility and higher such as in this play would be Duke senior would speak in poetry:
Duke senior-
"I would thou hadst been son to some man else
The world esteemed thy farther honourable,
But i did find him still mine enemy.
Thou shouldst have better pleased me with this deed
Hadst thou descended from another house.
But fare thee well, thou art a gallat youth;
I would thou hadst told me of another farther."
Other characters such also known as the 'commonors' such as Audrey speak in ordinary, regular old prose
Audrey-
"Ay, i know who 'tis; he hath no interest in me in the
world; here comes the man you mean"
This shows automatically the status between any character, showing their use of speech and intelligance as well as poetical devices which are used.
However Shakespeare does break some rules within the play for example the character Rosalind who is a nobel character does speak a lot in prose, this is because her character is so versitile due to her being technically two people and 'Ganymeade' which speaks in prose and as herself to which she does at time speak in verse. However i found out that whenever she does speak and talk or mention love it is always done in old prose.
As for my scene specifically, It is mostly spoken in blanc verse, however Silvius as shown from the first picture below from my annotation of my scene shows that to show his love and admiration for Phebe. The stresses and unstresses emphasises the certain words to stand out while said in character for example
'Sweet Phebe do not scorn me, do not phebe
Say that You love love me not say not so'
Showing clearly the emotions through the way the speech is said and presented, this shows that Silvius doesn't want her to hurt him but he wants to be with her at the same time. Showing his undying love for the shepherdess. However Phebe instead has language techniques rather than iambic pentameter for example some rhyming on page 107 is used to stand out those two sentences especially:
'Tis pretty, sure and very probable that eyes, that are the frail'st and softest things,
who shut their coward gates on atomies,
should be called tyrants, butchers and murderers!'
This small paragraph shows her point and attitude of yes eyes are sensitive and loving, however they should be killers and murderers to people. Showing her fear of falling in love, but also showing her weakness in being a coward, to scared to love.
Many other techniques that Shakespeare used within our scene were actually quite simplistic, due to this scene all being about love it's mostly spoken in verse with techniques such as rhyming and alliteration alliteration. I think the Speech is basic yet effective. Most of the humor is created because of it's interaction and debates with each of the character. For example on page 109 Rosalind speaks to herself out loud thinking through her though process, then interacting with Phebe then Silvius straight after the last sentence.
Compared to many other scenes and characters such as Touchstone who is very well known and realised for his often use and repetition of oxymoron and antithesis. He is a very confusing character to others but when he speaks he tries to balance out each position possible, the same for the very well known speech from Phebe with her monologue about Silvius. Trying to balance out the Pros and cons of falling in love with him. I think Shakespeare used these two methods especially when talking about emotions and love because in real life, love is confusing and is very dangerous if not done properly. Also hinting towards that some characters might have been hurt by love in the past and asking themselves 'are they worth the falling?'. Even though touchstone is a comedic character and is one of the most beloved throughout the whole piece, this does show his emotional and sensitive side though his technique of speech.
His use of metaphors and similes are very effective and once again give a dry humour to Rosalind which creates her character. For example from the picture above in page 109:
'You foolish Shepard, wherefore do you follow her, like foggy south puffing with the wind and rain?'
This use of language shows his stupidity. Symbolizing why are you following her around like the weather, following her every step and demand? I noticed as i looked through Rosalind verse speeches that the more use of metaphors and similes, the harsher the insults and her harsh side comes across to the audience. Insulting both characters to leave her alone, making is funny for the audience when hearing the insults and how the other characters react to them. Another strong example of this is again on page 109:
' for i must tell you friendly in your ear, sell when you can, your not for all markets'
This is a really harsh comment which Rosalind is telling Phebe the shepherdess that she should grab what she can get hold off, she is barely anyone's type. Saying she is rather ugly. This attitude shows her mean side, however This isn't Rosalind at all but her 'other character' Ganymede. She knows that she can get away with rude remarks and comments and would do anything possible to get out of any sticky situation. Again using her intelligence to escape.
His use of poetical devices are very cleverly thought and when read out are actually very nice when said for example on page 108:
'you meet in some fresh cheek the power of fancy, then shall you know the wounds invisable that keen love's arrows make'
This very poetical metaphor about love hurting said by the love struck Silvius is saying that if you ever find love then you will finally know how much love can hurt. Showing his soppy love puppy side, trying to convince Phebe to love him and not anyone else. As analyzing this specific scene against others, he uses a lot of poetical and language devices mostly when talking about love. Most of Shakespeare's plays are based around love and romance and has the same routine of devices used. It just gives that atmosphere of being heartfelt an trying to touch at the audiences heart. Or on the other hand in this scene feeling sympathetic for the man who can't get his true love.
However as shown in the pictures his punctuation and paragraphs are not in the normal way of speech for example paragraphs when not actually needed:
'Over the wretched? what, though you have no
beauty-
as, by my faith, i see no more in you
than without candle may go dark to bed-'
This may of been for several reasons, however i think it's to help change the thought process of that certain character. For example after Rosalind says the word 'beauty', that's when her thought changes and starts to insult Phebe with a rather insulting and rude simile.Which basically translates to 'I wouldn't even sleep with you in the dark' which is a very big insult especially to a women. It's Shakespeare's humor and comedy which is mostly used by metaphors and similes which makes it funny. Especially when the audience have never heard of such insults before. There is a rare use of repetition used in this scene as well, once again by surprise used for humor shown on page 109. Again a large insult to Phebe, this negativity that Rosalind releases towards Phebe through out this scene builds and this is the point of where she gets to her rusest insults. Building the humor and tense atmosphere with his language:
'Foul is most foul, being foul to be a scoffer.'
The repetition of the word 'foul' emphasizes and hints that Rosalind thinks of Phebe attitude towards others and loved ones as 'foul'. Also trying to be an annoyance to the shepherdess so she would leave her alone.
In conclusion to the language and poetical devises used by Shakespeare, In my chosen scene specifically It is all verse, meaning the speech is spoken fluently and doesn't really have a rhythm apart from the beginning of Silvius showing his love for Phebe, this would be to show clearly to the audience or reader that he is madly in love, most people connect poetry and rhythm to emotions such as love so is easy to connect to. However as Rosalind steps into the scene the language changes to verse and is spoken normally with no iambic pentameter or rhythm, this is to change the atmosphere from feeling sympathetic towards the character to laughing at them while Rosalind keeps throwing the metaphoric and simile insults. This creates a very funny atmosphere as even though the insults are thrown at Phebe she over see's them and falls for Ganymede. However after Rosalind disappears within half the scene after the scolding insults at both characters, Rosalind's plan worked and Both Phebe and Silvius are drawn closer. Then once again is spoken in a rhythm. for example on page 110 Silvius says a small iambic pentameter speech:
'Wherever sorrow is, relief would be.
If you do sorrow at my grief in love,
by giving love, your sorrow and my greif
were both extermind'
Again showing his love by saying that he and her are a perfect match and without the grief and sorrow can be as one. Shakespeare once again showing of his very emotional and love effected literature and poetry.
