Study in Literature

AESTHETICAL VALUE OF AS YOU LIKE IT 

Written by William Shakespeare

by: Sandi Ferdiansyah

Chapter I

INTRODUCTION

Literature is a branch of the study of a language. It, specifically, discusses the topics of literature and their theories. The teaching of literature has promoted a perspective of enabling the students not only to comprehend but also to value the literary works. This idea is in line with Chambers and Gregory (2006:2) who state that “literature, as a subset of story, acts, as do all other forms of story, to perform such all-important functions as telling human beings what is important in life, telling us what’s worthy of our admiration or our contempt….” It means that literature study in language learning plays an important role to evokes the human’s awareness of literary works and value them. 

There are some literary works in language learning, they are poetry, drama, novel, short story etc. Short story and novel are same based on the genre which is narrative. However, short story is less complicated and shorter. Short story is one of literary works that is written either as imaginative or factual-based story writing. Somehow, Eagleton (2005:2) states that literature is definable not according to whether it is fictional or 'imaginative', but because it uses language in peculiar ways; transforming and intensifying ordinary language, deviating systematically from everyday speech. As it is not written in an ordinary language, comprehending a short story is sometimes felt effortful. It is relatively difficult for the readers to interpret what actually the story is about. Therefore, Chambers and Gregory (2006:11) encourage the readers to develop their own interpretive opinions.   

 One of the famous English literatures in the seventeenth century is William Shakespeare. His writings were mainly in the forms of comedy. But, it is not the same as comedy today which makes the audience laugh. The comedy in Shakespeare’s day might be romantic, bear moral value, and the most important thing was that it was not a tragedy. So that, the analysis of Shakespeare’s short story entitled As You Like It in this writing mostly uses the aesthetical value.

Chapter II

SUMMARY

As You Like It

Written by William Shakespeare

Many years ago there lived a nobleman in England named Sir Rowland De Boys. He had three sons named Oliver, James, and Orlando. When Sir Rowland died, he left his eldest son Oliver is charge of his state, and looked after his youngest brother Orlando. But, Oliver did not treat his youngest brother as his father had wished. He sent James to school but kept Orlando at home. This made Orlando disappointed and angry. He held Oliver firmly till Oliver was difficult to take a breath. Oliver asked him to be released and gave what Orlando demanded with one condition that Orlando and Adam, the servant of the house, must leave the house.

After Orlando and Adam’s leaving, Oliver was introduced to a wrestler named Charles. He was employed by a duke named Frederick. The duke Frederick recently ruled after he had banished his older brother, the old duke. Charles told Oliver about a wrestling match. He also told him that Orlando had challenged him in the match. Charles came to warn Oliver about Orlando’s intention. Somehow, Oliver lied that Orlando insisted on joining the wrestle even Oliver had warned his brother not to join the wrestling match.

The banished duke had a daughter named Rosalind. Rosalind lived with her uncle the duke Frederick. The Duke Frederick had a daughter named Celia. Rosalind and Celia grew together as till it seemed that they could not be separated. One day, while Rosalind and Celia were walking around the palace, they discovered that Charles would wrestle Orlando. Both of them, especially Rosalind, took a pity to Orlando. She tried to warn Orlando not to fight Charles as Charles was strong enough for him to wrestle. But, Orlando denied Rosalind’s advice and insisted on fighting. Some time later, the wrestling match began. To the crowd surprise, Orlando, who was also strong, could throw Charles to the ground. At last he won the match as the judge said that Charles could not continue fighting. However, the duke Frederick hated Orlando when he knew that Orlando was the son of his enemy. So the duke Frederick asked him to leave the palace.

Rosalind who admired Orlando was sad to know that he was banished. Then, she gave him her necklace. It made the duke Frederick angry that he found Rosalind began to like Orlando. The duke Frederick, then, decided to banish her too. But, Celia protested her father by warning him that if he had banished Rosalind it meant that he would have banished her daughter too. So both of the girls escaped from the palace accompanied by Touchstone, the duke’s fool. Rosalind disguised herself as a man and named herself as Ganymede and Celia wore an ugly dress and named herself as Aliena. The three of them headed to the Arden forest that night. In the morning, the duke Frederick was furious to discover that his daughter had fled with his niece. He assumed that they went to Oliver’s house where Orlando lived. So he and his men went to Oliver’s house to search his daughter.

Oliver, who knew his youngest brother Orlando had won the wrestling match, made him jealous. So he planned to kill Orlando by the time Orlando had slept. But, Adam, one of the servant told Orlando about his oldest brother’s plan. Orlando thanked Adam for telling him that. Then, both of them left the house and headed to forest of Arden.

Rosalind and Celia (both in disguise) were very tired after a long journey and had a rest under a tree. There, they saw two shepherds were talking about love. Rosalind found out that one of the shepherd, the younger one, was in love with a girl named Phebe. Rosalind then asked for a cottage in where the three of them could pass the time. then, the older shepherd showed their master’s cottage which was left by their master to the town selling some sheep. Meanwhile, Orlando and Adam were also exhausted. Adam, even, gave up continuing their journey. Then, Orlando tried to find some food to eat until he met the Duke Frederick’s older brother and some of his men were going to eat. Orlando stopped them from eating and asked them to wait until he brought Adam back with him. The duke was pity to know it then he asked Orlando to bring his friend. Orlando was also well-welcomed after the Duke had known that Orlando was the son of Sir Rowland.

In another place, the Duke Frederick got very angry as he could not find Orlando in Oliver’s house. Then he ordered Oliver to search Orlando otherwise he would take all of Oliver’s property and belongings. Oliver began to search Orlando in fear immediately.

Orlando who lived in the forest with the real duke began to start his new peaceful life. However, he could not stop thinking of Rosalind. So he wrote many poems for her and hung them in the trees. But, he did not realize that he was actually close to her. Rosalind and Celia were curious about who had written the poems. Then Celia thought that it might be Orlando the man whom Rosalind ever gave the chain to.

One day, Rosalind and Celia (both still in disguise) met Orlando. Rosalind told Orlando that if he would to call her Rosalind then she would be pleasure to take Orlando to Rosalind’s cottage and he would be able to meet the real Rosalind there. Orlando agreed then he called Ganymede Rosalind. Rosaline (in disguise) asked him to promise that he would visit the Rosalind’s cottage in the next morning. However, Orlando failed to come which made Rosalind very upset. Some time later, they met Corin the older shepherd. Corin told them that the younger shepherd named Silvius was truly in love with Phebe but Phebe liked to scorn Silvius lots. This made Rosalind angry with Phebe. Rosalind said that Silvius actually deserved her. Somehow, it made Phebe began to like Rosalind who was in disguise as a man.

Soon after Rosalind and Celia came back to their cottage, Orlando came. Rosalind (in disguise) told how upset she was because of his being late. Orlando was sorry and promised not to be late anymore. But he had to leave both of them as he had a promise to have dinner with the duke.

The next morning, a man, who confessed himself as the Orlando’s oldest brother, came to Rosalind’s cottage telling that Orlando was injured after helping him. He showed the bloody bandage used to wrap Orlando’s wound. It made Rosalind faint. So, he and Celia took a good care of her. This made Oliver and Celia fall in love. Some time later, Orlando who has been healthy came to Rosalind and introduced his oldest brother to her. Oliver had changed his life and returned all of Orlando’s property. Rosalind was very happy to see Orlando back. Then she managed a time to gather all of them including Silvius and Phebe in the Duke’s Forest. There, Orlando married to Rosalind, Oliver to Celia, and Silvius to Phebe. After the old Duke had passed away, Orlando became the duke as the Duke Frederick became a religious man.

Chapter III

ANALYSIS

Most of literary works are written beautifully. This, according to Eagleton (2005:2) because of the texture, rhythm and resonance of your words are in excess of their abstract-able meaning - or, as the linguists might more technically put it, there is a disproportion the signifiers and the signified. Then, it is assumed that the literary work employs the aesthetical value. The word aesthetic (adj), according to Hornby (2005:19) concerned with beauty and the appreciation of beauty. And value is moral or professional standards of behavior, principles (Hornby, 2005:1319). Furthermore, Wikipedia.com states that aesthetics (also spelled aesthetics or esthetics) is a branch of philosophy dealing with the nature of beauty, art, and taste, and with the creation and appreciation of beauty. Therefore, the analysis of aesthetical value of the short story entitled As You Like It in this writing refers to the beauty of the sentences, phrases, or words used by the writer in writing the story in the sense of how each goes within the context or situation.

3.1 The aesthetical value of the story As You Like It

            First of all, (at p.37) after being called as “old dog” by Oliver, Adam, the servant of the Sir Rowland said, hurt deeply, “is old dog my reward? I have lost my teeth in your service. My old master sir Rowland would not have spoken like that.” The words old dog used are not actually a reward, Hornby (2005:1008) reward is something given in return of doing something good. Adam said it as a hint to Oliver for he even had lost his teeth that might be caused by Oliver during his service.

            Next, (at p.39) before Orlando fought Charles in a wrestle match he was advised by the girl named Rosalind not to fight. However, he said, “…if I am killed, I am willing to die and shall do my friends no wrong, because I have none. Nobody will sorrow at my death.” What Shakespeare intended to tell the reader in his story was that all about an honor. Orlando would keep fighting even his opponent might be stronger than him as he had accepted the challenge and there was no excuse for him to abandon it.

            Further, (at p.43) when Orlando escaped from the Oliver’s house, Adam asked to follow him. He said, “I have five hundred pounds which I saved while working for your father. Take that, and let me be your servant. Though I look old, I am still strong, I will follow you until my death with truth and loyalty.” This expresses the strong willing of Adam to serve Orlando loyally and truthfully.

            P.46 Orlando met some strangers in the forest of Arden when he was looking for some food after Adam had suffered from exhaust. He calmed himself down after one of the strangers said something wisely to him. He said, “…but whoever you are that live under the shade of these branches, if you have looked on better days, and been where bells called you to church, and sat at any good man’s feast, and wiped a tear from your eyelids, and known what it is to pity and be pitied, take no notice of my show of force. Listen, instead, to the request of a gentleman.” Orlando said such words to indicate his apology for being rude to the band of the strangers. What he probably wanted to say …if you have looked on better days… was that he had been living in sadness and sorrow thus he wondered if the man could share of his happiness. …been where bells called you to church… was might be the man was a religious one who could lead him as a religious one too, …and sat at any good man’s feast… if the man he was talking to was a generous man, he would be happy to be together with the man as he would be taken to some feast with the man, …wiped a tear from your eyelids… the word tear is close to a sadness wiped a tear can mean end the sadness. The man had lived in happiness so that Orlando really wanted to end his sorrow and live happily.

            Jacques (P.46), one of the strangers, said, “all the worlds is a stage and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and entrances, and one man in his time plays many parts through his seven ages. At first the infant in the nurse’s arms…. The last scene of all, that ends his strange eventful history, is a second childhood, without teeth, without eyes, without taste, and without anything.” These words are very beautiful and of course value aesthetics. Shakespeare, through the characters of his story, probably tried to attract reader’s attention about the essence of life. Human had nothing in the beginning of his life, he needs the other to grow up, …the infant in the nurse’s arms… That likely reflect in the last of his life that what he has will disappear, …and without anything. 

            P.49 the next interesting scene in the story happens when Orlando met Rosalind. Their talk about love is very attractive. Rosalind pretended to ask the time to Orlando. Then, Orlando said, “there’s no clock in the forest.”
“then, there’s no true lover in the forest, Said Rosalind, because lovers sighing every minute and groaning every hour show the passing of time as well as clock.” This was continued by Rosalind, she said, “love is just a madness, she replied, I cured a man of it once in this way. He was to pretend that I was his loved one, and pay me compliments every day. I would keep changing. I would be full of tears, then full of smiles, I would like him, and then hate him. I would weep for him, then spit at him. In this way I cured him of his love, and I would cure you, if you just call me Rosalind,…” Rosalind was in disguise so that Orlando could not recognize her. Rosalind did this to know how much Orlando loved her. When Rosalind said that there’s no true lover in the forest because lovers sighing every minute and groaning every hour show the passing of time as well as clock what she meant actually was that she wanted to tell Orlando how sad the lover had been if he or she could not have met the true lover. Next, what Rosalind meant by love is a madness was that love sometimes could be very confusing. When the woman was given some compliments by her lover, she would be very happy. But once she would be very sad when her lover failed to cheer her up. Therefore, the girl would keep changing from being happy to being sad, smile to tear, just to make her lover keep loving her and she loved him more. That way would cure and keep their love.

            P.50 another interesting talk happened between Phebe and Silvius. Phebe who did not like Silvius said, “You tell me there is murder in my eye. Now I frown on you with all my heart, and if my eyes can wound, then let them kill you now. Don’t lie and say my eyes are murderers! Show me the wound my eyes has made in you. My eyes do not hurt you, and I am sure there is no force in eyes that can do hurt.” The words that are written in the story not actually based on the lexical meaning. Therefore, it cannot be discovered easily what the writer meant. Just like the word murder, Hornby (2005:765) defines murder as the illegal deliberate killing of a human being. So that, it is, simply, impossible that eyes can hurt and murder. This part of talking was actually preceded by a story in which Phebe always scorned Silvius for she did not like him. That made Silvius’ love likely have been murdered.

            Next, P.52 Rosalind was so upset to know Orlando was late that she said, “Yes, a snail, because, though he comes slowly, he carries his house on his head-more than you can offer a woman, I think. But now beg me to love you. Now I am in a good mood, and likely enough to say I will.” It is interesting when Rosalind hinted Orlando like a snail. It does not mean that she meant what she talked about. However, it was just to tempt him and thus he would not be late anymore.

Chapter IV

CONCLUSION

The story written by Shakespeare entitled As You Like It belongs to comedy. However, it is not only about joke but also tend to talk about love in different side. This story values aesthetic as it appreciates the nature of beauty. It is reflected by some citations written in the story. The followings are some expressions which value aesthetic that are taken from the story:   

Page	Sentences or phrases	Description
37	Is old dog my reward?	This implies the beauty of the servant’s bravery after being hurt against the master’s bad behavior.
39	If I’m killed I am willing to die… nobody will sorrow at my death	This implies the beauty of Orlando’s willing to keep fighting to defend his honor
43	I will follow you until the death with truth and royalty	This implies the beauty of a loyalty
40	If you’ve looked at better days….wiped a tear from your eyelids	This implies the beauty of Orlando’s confession to commit his fault
46	All the world’s a stage… without anything	This implies the beauty of Jacques’ illustration about human’s life
49	There’s no true lover…as the passing time as well as clocked	This implies the beauty of Rosalind’s expression to catch the Orlando’s attention of love
50	You tell me there’s murder in my eyes… that can do hurt	This implies the beauty of Phebe’s words in denying the love of Silvius
52	Yes, a snail… enough to say I will	This implies the beauty of Rosalind’s hint to Orlando of being late

From the above table, therefore, it is clear that the story of As You Like It values aesthetic.

Reference

Chambers, E. and Gregory, M. 2006. Teaching and Learning English Literature. London: Sage Publications Ltd.

Eagleton, T. 2005. Literary Theory: An Introduction. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing.

Hornby, A.,S. 2005. Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Oxford: Oxford University Press

Shakespeare, W. 2003. (Ed). Four Shakespeare Comedies: As You Like It. Jakarta: PT Gramedia Pustaka Utama.

www.Wikipedia.com/ aesthetic (retrieved on 15 September 2011)