As You Like It Notes

Jacques’ remark “and that they call complement, was like t’counter of two dog-apes” depict his willingness to purposely alienate himself from the courtiers and Duke. The canine animalistic references and connotations illustrate his disaccord with Duke Seniors ideals of belonging to an established community. “If the duke hath put on a religious life and thrown into neglect the pompous court”. Jacque mocks the ideals established within the court, choosing to isolate himself from the rest of the community. Yet through such an act of alienation, he enriches his own sense of self, causing a greater awareness of the world around him. Accentuating this is Jacques soliloquy of the seven ages of man, likening life to a theatre stage.

The animalistic references ,“but kindness nobler ever than revenge and nature stronger than his just cause, made him give battle to the lioness” effectively illustrate the strong ties which within familial and community aspects instill a sense of belonging.

Shakespeare explores the notion of not belonging to community through the characterization of Jacques. Jacques is known as the “melancholy man” due to his tendency to criticize societal customs, epitomized when he says, “that they call compliment is like th'encounter of two dog-apes.” The animal simile of 'dog-apes' would have represented a denunciation in Shakespearean times, and thus the mechanism through which Jacques illustrates his discordance with Duke Senior's ideals of belonging to an established community. This is furthered when Jacques mocks the customs of the court by stating that “the duke hath put on a religious life and thrown into neglect the pompous court.” Thus, he seeks to isolate himself from the community in order to establish a greater clarity of the world, and thereby enrich his own sense of belonging to self - an achievement recognised by his personal soliloquy regarding the 'Seven Ages of Man.

Familial ties, strengthened through events, are