Chapter Commentary of As You Like It - Study Guide by William Shakespeare

The love of Oliver and Celia is the final example of 'love at first sight' in the pay, amusingly recounted to Rosalind by Orlando. Thereafter she speaks "in sober meanings" (V.2.66). This sobriety underpins the comically romantic refrains on the nature of love as Phebe, Orlando and the still disguised Rosalind echo the idealistic definitions and feelings of Silvius and prepare us for the solemnity of the final scene.

Touchstone announces that he and Audrey will be married the next day, thus confirming the fourth potential marriage. Two pages sing "It was a lover and his lass", but the romantic note is not unalloyed, succeeded as it is by Touchstone’s unappreciative comments.

In the final scene, Rosalind, still in disguise, confirms the marriage pacts that she has made in the Duke’s presence. Touchstone arrives with Audrey and engages in a final bout of wit as he is introduced to the Duke. This final interchange between Touchstone and Jacques in which Touchstone mocks aspects of courtly life and manners precedes the denouement, easily brought about by the revelation of Rosalind’s disguise as she and Celia then enter and Rosalind seals the bargains made. The entrance of a masquer, Hymen, who sings a wedding song brings solemnity and formal ceremony. The Duke welcomes his daughters and niece. Phebe accepts Silvius.

Jacques de Boys, the second son of Sir Rowland, comes with then news that Duke Frederick, who had come to the forest with the intention of capturing Duke Senior and putting him to the sword, has experienced a change of heart. He has decided to bequeath his crown to the banished Duke and restore the lands seized from those he banished and to withdraw from the world. There is general rejoicing. So impressed is Jacques with the Duke’s conversation that he decides to follow him into the religious world. It’s left to Rosalind to appeal to the audience’s goodwill in the epilogue.

News of the conversion of Duke Frederick prepares the way for the restoration of the old order made wiser by experience. The decision of Jacques to join the Duke means that he too has made a resolution appropriate to his temperament and character, so that it cannot be said tbat he is excluded from the plays harmonious and happy ending. There are no loose ends. Rosalind remarks that it is not convention to give the epilogue to a lady, but as the engineer of Shakespeare’s plot it is highly fitting that it is she who speaks and so brings the play to an end on a note of good humour and insinuating comic banter.