Belonging In As You Like It

It is through the primal instinct of belonging in humanity that individuals will always strive to belong to someone or something at every stage in their life. Through these interconnections within the world a person will experience belonging as a multifaceted concept in that it will transpire in many various ways specific to each individual. Inclusion and exclusion can at lengths dictate the identity and notions of self for an individual both positively and negatively. Through the texts “As You like It” by William Shakespeare and “Jude the Obscure”, a Thomas Hardy novel, the abstract ideology towards belonging can be derived. Exploration of how the denaturing of the family structure can impinge attitudes towards belonging and shape the ramifications
In the case of Shakespeare’s “As You like It”, when a breakdown of the family structure is prevalent, the natural order is disrupted and, true to Shakespearian theatre, when the natural order is challenged, disrupted or broken; chaos will ensue. Orlando, as depicted in “As You like It”, illustrates how an individual can develop such notions of detriment towards themselves. In the opening lines of the play the audience is directly introduced to the character of Orlando mid-speech. In this introductory paragraph, the breakdown of the family structure is evident. Orlando is of noble blood but however is uneducated and treated, in his view, not dissimilar to a peasant or slave. He compares himself to farm animals lowering his status of being classified as even a simple human being. “Stays me here at home unkempt; for call you that ‘keeping’ for a gentleman of my birth that differs not from the stalling of an ox?” In this quote Orlando illustrates how his brother, Oliver, has placed him in such a position of peasantry that he is restricted from the world and is inhibited in his development and self-actualisation. Oliver also, through his denying of the natural order to transpire, is allowing negative ideology on Orlando’s part towards belonging to occur. The relationship between Orlando and Oliver is
Allegiance with place is also companionship with its people or characters within it. The use of nature and its importance in the “As You like It” shows the inner and primal necessity of belonging to humans and society. Shakespeare once again utilises juxtaposition to contrast belonging in both the court of Duke Frederick and the Forest of Arden. The court projects an image of structure and formality, code of conduct and regulations to social behaviour. The court is an association people are banished from (as in the case of Duke Senior, Orlando and Rosalind) and leave and thus represents an unaccepting and misunderstanding environment that inhibits the finding of a true and genuine sense of belonging, negating any positive connotations. On the other hand, the Forest of Arden is where people are free and come together, it is a place that’s essence is acceptance and solidarity with fellow man. “Now, my co-mates and brothers in exile, Hath not old custom made this life more sweet Than that of painted pomp?” The pastoral Tradition is seen as a key theme to enhancing the euphoric and inviting essence of the Forest of Arden. Due to “As you like It” being of a comedic form Shakespeare uses this whimsicality found in the pastoral tradition to enforce the “go with the flow” attitude of “getting back to nature” and our roots where harmonious life can be found which in