Paper Summary:

The author of this paper contends that imagery in Shakespeare's work is important. It is in and through the images and the verbal pictures in the speech and thought of his characters that Shakespeare illuminates the structure of meaning in his plays. The paper examines Shakespeare's use of trees in the comedy "As You Like It" to reveal the balance between nature and art.

From the Paper:

"Yet a final scene under a tree takes place that summarizes the essence of As You Like It. "Under an old oak, whose boughs were mossed with age," Orlando rescues his brother Oliver from a snake (4.3.105). Toward the final act of the play, sudden changes occur. The presentation of balance between art and nature is met with the tone of suddenness. The story jumps from one scene to the next and characters changing unexpectedly beginning with this scene under the oak tree. Out of nowhere an act of bravery and unselfishness is displayed by Orlando as he rescues his brother, Oliver, whom he is envious of in the beginning of the story. This then obviously changes Oliver's initial intention of killing Orlando. The play picks up its pace from this scene and characters are quickly changing, transforming into something they aren't necessarily from the beginning of the play. In this scene under the tree which somehow triggers the sudden changes that takes place in the play, Shakespeare reveals that real transformation is still based on human ability and this is where the balance happens. Humans should not let itself be fully controlled by its nature. Art does not fully control human nature either. Balance is achieved in the human being's ability to have nature and art working hand in hand within itself."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Bevington, David; The Necessary Shakespeare Second Edition
• Spurgeon, Caroline F.E.; Shakespeare's Imagery and What it Tells Us

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