As You Like It begins with a conflict between what is and what was. Or so the characters think. Actually though, the parallel scenes in the de Boys orchard and Duke Frederick’s court show that the real problem is the idea that it is possible to separate past and present at all. This unstable opposition takes a number of different forms in the play. Shakespeare explores it in two main ways: the relationship between blood and law in determining status, and the relationship between Nature and Fortune in determining a person’s fate. Pick one of these ways and explain how it plays out in a particular scene from Act I in the play. Answer, cite and explain.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3rd Quarter Blog Post 3
Step inside your mind and into the library of books you've read. Which one best represents the painting below and why? You must use a q...
Brynn Klaber: Nature Vs. Fortune
ReplyDeletePrompt 1: Unstable opposition in Act 1 Scene 2
The relationship between Nature and Fortune in determining a person’s fate is developed throughout Act 1 Scene 2 of the play “As You Like It.” In this scene Rosalind and Celia are discussing the roles of nature and fortune in society. The roles that fortune and nature play are that fortune relates to the materialistic items, and nature is what is naturally given to you. Fortune is given a negative connotation because it represents things that destroy a person’s character and nature. The more wealthy a person becomes, the more materialistic and snotty they are. In lines 48-50, Rosalind states, “Indeed, there is Fortune too hard for Nature, when Fortune makes Nature’s natural the cutter-off of Nature’s wit.” These lines exemplify the relationship between fortune and nature. They reveal that fortune is displayed as being too “harsh” on nature because what is naturally given to you is oftentimes destroyed by fortune. Nature ultimately gives great gifts, but fortune has the ability to take them all away. Someone's fate can be determined by their ability to rationalize between nature and fortune. If a person is too focused on fortune, then everything that was naturally given to them will be ruined because they were too focused on materialistic items and wealth, leading them to a dangerous fate. However, if a person accepts what was naturally given to them, then fate will guide them in the right direction because they were able to stick to their morals, ignoring the materialistic society. Overall, whether a person decides to stick to their nature, or search for fortune, says a lot about their personality and character, which ultimately decides their fate as an individual.
Your take on this response was intriguing. I would have never thought about how personality could relate to nature and fortune.-Emily Ally
DeleteI really liked how you focused on how fortune has the ability to destroy what nature gives a person. That's the exact same idea I got out of the conversation between Rosalind and Celia. Great work :) -Grace Dunaway
DeleteI agree that Act 1 Scene 2 really shows the difference between nature and fortune.
DeleteBrooks Farabow
ReplyDeleteThe relationship between Nature and Fortune in determining a person’s fate is developed throughout Act 2 Scene 3, following the introduction of the idea in act 2. In this scene, Rosalind runs into some more bad fortune when she is banished by Duke Fredrick out of nowhere. Her cousin, and her affection, being a product of their nature, is the only help she has dealing with her poor fortune, “Will we be separated? Should we part, sweet girl? No. Let my father find another heir”. Celia rejects her natural fortune from her family, her fate also seems to be altered since her affection won’t let her choose safety over kindness. Nature represents the past, our memories, and the things that have already happened or we know to be true, while fortune represents a snapshot of identity in the present tense. Fate is determined by the way we let nature help us navigate our lives. There are dangers to being too focused on either their nature or fortune but not both because the ideas contradict each other. Duke Frederick's greed for power, an obsession with fortune, led him to his banishment of Rosalind. Nature is something we can learn from and reflect on, allowing our growth. You will be a better person if you focus on your nature more than your fortune, but in some cases that might not be easy because the fortunes tempting us are sometimes out of our control.
I could not have agreed more on how you perceive nature and fortune. I think as a person I could personally relate to your response! -Emily Ally
DeleteI agree that bad fortune is a big theme throughout the book and that that Rosalind has to go through a lot of it.
DeleteThomas Stewart
ReplyDeleteThe relationship between Nature and Fortune is developed through the early stages of Act 2, specifically scenes 2. At this point in the story, Rosalind experiences misfortune when she is banished by Duke Frederick. The theme of nature ties into the strong relationship displayed between Celia and Rosalind. The two cousins are extremely close to each other and their great friendship is a product of nature. Celia is constantly coming to the defense of Rosalind, doing what she can to product her and make sure that they are not separated. “Then lay that sentence on me too, my lord. I cannot live without her.” This quote exemplifies Celia's affection towards Rosalind, even going as far as to take the punishment upon herself so that her cousin can remain in safety. Nature is natural and is mostly out of our control. Our fate is determined through events that naturally unfold, and we can act in a way that can shift those events for the better, positively impacting us. Fortune, however, has a more direct affect on how people make their decisions. Fortune can bend the mind of someone, causing them to behave in ways that may come off as greedy or lustful. This is evident with Duke Frederick, who is so obsessed with fortune and power, that it brings him to banish those within his own family. These actions contribute to a large disliking of his rule and personality.
I agree with your response. I like how you said the fortune can bend the mind of someone. -Carissa Boddie
DeleteEmily Ally
ReplyDeleteWeek 4
In extended metaphors in Act I, Shakespeare personifies Fortune and Nature in order to convey a central theme of the play: that Fortune and Nature often work at odds. For example, Fortune may bestow such gifts as wealth, position, and power on a person simply because he was born into the right family. However, if he lacks certain gifts of Nature—such as nobility, foresight, courage, and wisdom—he will not have the wherewithal to manage his material gifts properly. On the other hand, Nature may bestow a bounty of gifts on a person whom Fortune has ignored. This person will have the faculties to make his way in the world but not the material gifts to succeed without a struggle. “As You Like It” has depicted nature and fortune. When Celia speaks to Rosalind while they ponder the difference between fortune and nature. Touchstone, a fool, has just walked in, which prompts Celia to make this clever remark about the special function of fools in the nature of life. Celia says “Peradventure this is not Fortune’s work neither, but Nature’s, who perceiveth our natural wits too dull to reason of such goddesses, and hath sent this natural for our whetstone, for always the dullness of the fool is the whetstone of the wits.”(Act 1 Scene 2). Celia states that Touchstone, like all fools, has been sent by nature to interrupt them to sharpen their wits. In the play, nature functions as the great leveler of both people and situations, a force that equalizes and restores order. In “As You Like It'', many of the characters have just cause to "rail on Lady Fortune" and the caprices of human nature. By the end of the play, however, those who were of evil nature have changed for the better, and fortune's gifts have been fairly bestowed.
Your analysis was very clear, and I liked how you applied one theme to several scenes in the book, and showed how it contributed to plot development.
DeleteGrace Dunaway: Prompt One: Nature vs Fortune
ReplyDeleteThe relationship between nature and fortune in determining a person’s fate is explored through a conversation between Rosalind and Celia in the beginning of the play. The girls have different viewpoints on how both nature and fortune affect a person’s fate. Rosalind states, “Fortune reigns in gifts of the world, not in the lineaments of Nature” in Act 1 Scene ii. Celia, disagreeing, responds with “When Nature hath made a fair creature, may she not by Fortune fall into the fire? Though nature hath given us wit to flout at Fortune, hath not Fortune sent in this fool to cut off the argument?”. In summary, Rosalind believes that fortune determines what happens to us and nature is how we are created. Celia believes that fortune can destroy nature. While nature can make someone beautiful and possibly determine their status on the world, fortune has the ability to turn around events and destroy what nature gives. I think this is evident through the play when Rosalind gets banished by Duke Frederick. By nature, she is related to her father who Duke Frederick despises, so this determines her fate because she was sent away due to her relationship with her father. In this way, nature determined Rosalind’s fate instead of fortune. Ultimately though, I think fate is determined by both nature and fortune. Nature sets you up for a particular life in terms of looks, wealth, and opportunities you are given, but fortune can completely change the tide of one’s fate and spin them in a whole different direction.
I definitely agree with your response especially when you said the girls have different viewpoints on how on how nature and fortune affect fate- Carissa Boddie
DeleteCarissa Boddie, Week December 4
ReplyDeleteThe relationship between nature and fortune starts to develop at the beginning of Act 2 and mainly in scene 2. Rosalind is struck with bad fortune when Duke Frederick suddenly banishes her. Celia is the main reason she is able to deal with this in the first place. The theme of nature also ties in with the relationship of Rosalind and Celia. These two are very close and their friendship is a product of nature and good fortune. "Peradventure this is not Fortune’s work neither, but Nature’s, who perceiveth our natural wits too dull to reason of such goddesses, and hath sent this natural for our whetstone, for always the dullness of the fool is the whetstone of the wits". Nature also restores order within everyone.
Charlie Jones -
ReplyDeleteAs You Like It is filled with complex character dynamics that face various different categories, and Law vs. Blood plays a huge role in the debates between Orlando and Oliver within Act 1. Oliver is the oldest son and because of that role he inherits almost the entire kingdom from his father. On top of this, all of Orlando’s life has been lived in his brother’s shadow as his brother has refused to take care of him and give him proper schooling or training for his future role within the kingdom. This lack of care is due to Oliver’s extreme paranoia about being overthrown by his younger brother. In the beginning we even see a heated exchange between the two brothers about this issue. Orlando is a caring younger brother who has no evil intentions, therefore he represents the side of blood over the law in his respect for his brother with no intention of losing that relationship. Oliver’s paranoia puts him on the side of the law as he strictly follows the rules of inheritance, being the sole inheritor of the kingdom, he worries about the connection with his brother and how he may act out to receive his portion of the inheritance, despite the rules of inheritance stating otherwise. Orlando states his case for better respect from Oliver when he states, “Ay, better than him I am before knows me. I know you are my eldest brother, and in the gentle condition of blood you should so know me. The courtesy of nations allows you my better, in that you are the first-born, but the same tradition takes not away my blood, were there twenty brothers betwixt us. I have as much of my father in me as you, albeit, I confess, your coming before me is nearer to his reverence.” (Ai, Si, 37-46). The clash between brother debates both Blood vs. Law as the two dispute rightful inheritance versus brotherly and familial love. This clash determines both character’s fate as they have to find their way with one another in, or out of their lives. Orlando must figure a way to get what is rightfully his, or essentially leave his family and bloodline behind. Oliver must overcome his paranoia of a brother taking his kingdom away and accept his poor treatment of Orlando and correct his mistakes.
The relationship between Nature and Fortune in determining a person's fate is explored throughout "As You Like It". In the play, Nature can be associated with your inherited traits such as physical appearance, personality, family, etc. Fortune, on the other hand, is the thing that has the power to alter your fate, or even destroy your Nature. This is why the two forces seem to be in conflict with one another, and Act I Scene ii discusses this. Rosalind and Celia have differing views of the roles and powers of the two forces on a person's life. Rosalind states that "Fortune gives all of her gifts to the wrong people, and she especially gets things wrong where women are concerned", indicating that she feels Fortune has given her things she does not deserve. Celia then asks Rosalind "when Nature makes a person beautiful, can’t Fortune make her fall into a fire, thereby making her ugly after all", exemplifying the conflict between the forces of Nature and Fortune.
ReplyDeleteBoth Rosalind and Celia have great impacts of each others fate and destiny. -maggie
DeleteIn As You Like It, blood and law plays a hefty role in determining both the past, present, and future of all of the characters, whether that be a good, or a bad thing for each. During this time period, it was very common for laws to determine what could and could not be done legally between blood relatives. For example, if a parent to two or more children passes away, their inheritance goes to the eldest child, and it is up to them to distribute the wealth as they see fit. This is the exact situation of Orlando and his older brother, Oliver, in the very beginning of the play in Act I, Scene I. Because of this law, Oliver was able to take almost full possession of their father’s inheritance (which in their case, was quite a bit) and do as he saw fit. Selfishly, Oliver kept nearly all of the money and estate, and forced his younger brother, Orlando, to live as though he were a house slave, with almost the same salary. Because of this law, and the greedy hands that were able to take advantage of it, a blood feud was formed between the two brothers, and caused great strife between them, as Orlando had grown up resentful of his brother for his servile treatment, and Oliver remained annoyed at the very presence of his younger brother, eagerly awaiting the day where he could finally be rid of him. As this is how the play is introduced, it is important for the readers to keep the example this scene sets in mind, and see how it can be applied to other familial situations later on in the plot. - regan a. allen
ReplyDeleteI agree there is a certain depth to blood relations in the case of Orlando and Olvier. -maggie
DeleteCaitlin Fleming
ReplyDeleteWeek of December 4
In "As You Like It" Shakespeare expresses conflict through blood and law. In act 1 there is a fight between Oliver and Orlando. Oliver is the oldest brother and due to the laws and customs during that time period, when his father passed away he got the largest part of the inheritance. Orlando was left with almost nothing and Oliver did not treat him well, even though they were blood related. His father had told Oliver to make sure Orlando has a good education, however Oliver did not follow that and Orlando was angry. This shows the conflict between blood and law because according to the law Oliver gets the major part of the inheritance even though they are blood related. Oliver treats Orlando very poorly and betrays his brother. Since this is how the beginning of the story it is important to remember this throughout the story of how Oliver and Orlando do not have a good bond.
Maggie Heckman
ReplyDeleteIn the play As You Like It by William Shakespeare, the relationship between blood and law plays a role in determining status is explored, as seen in the relationship between Rosalind and Celia. We learn early on that the pair are very close and deeply connected as they think of each other like sisters. This shows how the girls exemplify the value they place on blood relations following the banishment of Rosalind is comforted by Celia as she is the only person she has left. This goes to show how their blood relations and overall bond defies status in Rosalind's case. Rosalind is allowed to stay in the court despite her fathers exile which shows how her blood relations to Celia allow her to stay. This can be seen in the quote, “a banished father, you must not teach me how to remember any extraordinary pleasure.” This quote demonstrates how without her father Rosalind must rely on Celia and her relationship with her to save her status in society. Without the close bond and literal blood relationship as cousins, this goes to show how blood and law play a large role in status in this society. This also cuts both ways as Rosalind’s blood relations with her father could have gotten her banished as well. Therefore, either way it goes Rosalind is an example of how law and blood play a large role in either the rise or downfall of status.
Cameron Walters
ReplyDeleteIn the play “As you like it” by William Shakespeare, nature and fortune is developed throughout the story but mainly in Act 1 and more specifically in Scene 2 of Act 1. This is where Rosalind and Celia are talking about the relationship between nature and fortune. What they come out with is that fortune is related to materialistic qualities while they see nature is what you earn or what is given to you. These sounds similar but the difference between the two in the novel is that fortune is mainly given a negative connotation because these items such as wealth and position can be obtained through pure luck of the person. Although, nature is depicted as obtaining more good traits like nobility and wisdom. These things gained through nature are obviously more valuable in the long run for people as it helps them build strong relationships instead of weak ones that are filmed to gain something in return. Also, nature eventually gives great gifts even if they do not early on, fortune can take the same gifts that they give away as quickly as a snap of the fingers. Fortune can also blind a person to not be able to see the gifts that nature gives someone; fortune’s gifts can see like the most valuable things in the world initially but as life goes on people start to regret focusing on fortune’s gifts. Throughout the play they see fortune as something that can hurt a person and nature as a valuable gift giver.
Nature vs Fortune is seen evidently throughout the early portion of the story. Nature in the story is experienced through the bond of Celia and Rosalind. Being naturally cousins, Celia and rosalind are extremely close and have a tight bond. Celia is constantly looking after Rosalind, signifying their friendship, which is a product of nature through family and friendship. An example of fortune is Duke Fredrick, as he is constantly trying to chase after fame and fortune, seemingly unaware of anything else.
ReplyDelete-John Biesecker