As You Like It

Graphic Shakespeare

adapted by Vincent Goodwin illustrated by Rod Espinosa

visit us at www.abdopublishing.com Published by Magic Wagon, a division of the ABDO Group, 8000 West 78th Street, Edina, Minnesota, 55439. Copyright © 2011 by Abdo Consulting Group, Inc. International copyrights reserved in all countries. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher. Graphic Planet™ is a trademark and logo of Magic Wagon. Printed in the United States of America, North Mankato, Minnesota. 042010 092010 This book contains at least 10% recycled materials. Adapted by Vincent Goodwin Illustrated by Rod Espinosa Edited by Stephanie Hedlund and Rochelle Baltzer Interior layout and design by Antarctic Press Cover art by Rod Espinosa Cover design by Abbey Fitzgerald

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Goodwin, Vincent. William Shakespeare’s As you like it / adapted by Vincent Goodwin ; illustrated by Rod Espinosa. p. cm. -- (Graphic Shakespeare) Summary: In graphic novel format, presents the play by William Shakespeare in which Rosalind, banished to the Forest of Arden and disguised as a boy, reunites with her true love Orlando. ISBN 978-1-60270-761-0 (alk. paper) 1. Graphic novels. [1. Graphic novels. 2. Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616--Adaptations.] I. Espinosa, Rod, ill. II. Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. As you like it. III. Title. IV. Title: As you like it. PZ7.7.G66Wc 2010 741.5’973--dc22 2010002659

Cast of Characters.................................4 Our Setting.............................................5 Act I........................................................6 Act II.....................................................18 Act III....................................................23 Act IV....................................................30 Act V.....................................................37 Behind As You Like It..........................44 Famous Phrases...................................45 About the Author..................................46 Additional Works by Shakespeare.......47 About the Adapters..............................47 Glossary...............................................48 Web Sites..............................................48

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Duke Senior

Orlando

Banished Duke

Son of Sir Rowland

Rosalind

Oliver

Daughter of Duke Senior

Son of Sir Rowland

Duke Frederick

Adam

Duke Senior’s brother

Servant of Sir Rowland

Charles

Le Beau

Wrestler to Duke Frederick

Courtier to Sir Frederick

Celia

Corin

Daughter of Duke Frederick

Shepherd

Amiens

Silvius

Attendant to Duke Senior

Shepherd

Jaques

Phebe

Attendant to Duke Senior

Shepherdess

As You Like It is set in the ¿ctional Forest of Arden and the ¿ctional court of Duke Frederick. The banished Duke Senior in As You Like It lives in the Forest of Arden and is reunited with much of the cast there later in the play. The forest is based on the forest of the Ardennes in Belgium. At the time Shakespeare wrote this play, France was divided into provinces called dukedoms, which were ruled by dukes. The courts at this time were not stable.

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As You Like It was written around 1598 and 1600, the same time as some of William Shakespeare’s other comedies. These comedies are called the “great” or “middle” comedies because they were written in between his histories and his tragedies. Like most of his other great comedies, As You Like It is set in a ¿ctional place. While As You Like It is classi¿ed as a comedy, it has serious parts. Shakespeare wrote it to help people study human emotions and ideas. Shakespeare based this play on Thomas Lodge’s romance Rosalynde or Euphues’ Golden Legacy from 1590. Shakespeare added his own characters and removed the violence Lodge had used in his story. As You Like It is set in the ¿ctional Forest of Arden and the ¿ctional court of Duke Frederick. There is a conÀict between Oliver and Orlando, sons of Sir Rowland de Boys, because Oliver wants his brother to leave. Orlando challenges Charles the Wrestler to a match. At the match, Orlando meets Rosalind and falls in love. Meanwhile, Duke Frederick has taken over his brother’s dukedom and banished Duke Senior. Frederick allowed Rosalind, Duke Senior’s daughter, to stay because Frederick’s daughter, Celia, loves her so much. Frederick soon changes his mind and banishes Rosalind. Rosalind and Celia decide to ¿nd Duke Senior in the Forest of Arden together. Rosalind disguises herself as a man so they can safely travel. At the same time, Orlando realizes his brother wants him dead, and he retreats to the Forest of Arden. In the forest, the disguised Rosalind meets Orlando. She vows to cure him of his love if he pretends she is Rosalind. Celia meets Oliver and they fall in love and decide to marry. A shepardess, Phebe, falls in love with Ganymede, which upsets Silvius, who is in love with Phebe. Rosalind decides to unveil herself at Oliver and 44

Celia’s wedding. Then, she and Orlando wed, and Phebe settles for Sylvius. The evil Duke Frederick raises an army to attack Duke Senior. But on his way, he meets a religious man who converts him. Duke Frederick gives back his crown to Duke Senior, and the story ends happily. Since it was written, As You Like It has been performed many times. In 1599, Shakespeare became part owner of the Globe Theatre in London, and his plays were performed there. Today, the characters of As You Like It come to life on stages and in ¿lms around the world.

All the world’s a stage and all the men and women merely players. I see thou lovest me not with the full weight that I love thee. Mistress, know yourself. No sooner met but they looked, no sooner looked but they loved.

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William Shakespeare was baptized on April 26, 1564, in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. At the time, records were not kept of births, however, the churches did record baptisms, weddings, and deaths. So, we know approximately when he was born. Traditionally, his birth is celebrated on April 23. William was the son of John Shakespeare, a tradesman, and Mary Arden. He most likely attended grammar school and learned to read, write, and speak Latin. Shakespeare did not go on to the university. Instead, he married Anne Hathaway at age 18. They had three children, Susanna, Hamnet, and Judith. Not much is known about Shakespeare’s life at this time. By 1592 he had moved to London, and his name began to appear in the literary world. In 1594, Shakespeare became an important member of Lord Chamberlain’s company of players. This group had the best actors and the best theater, the Globe. For the next 20 years, Shakespeare devoted himself to writing. He died on April 23, 1616, but his works have lived on.

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Love’s Labour’s Lost (1588–97) The Comedy of Errors (1589–94) The Taming of the Shrew (1590–94) Romeo and Juliet (1594–96) A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1595–96) Much Ado About Nothing (1598–99) As You Like It (1598–1600) Hamlet (1599–1601) Twelfth Night (1600–02) Othello (1603–04) King Lear (1605–06) Macbeth (1606–07) The Tempest (1611)

Vincent Goodwin earned his BA in Drama and Communications from Trinity University in San Antonio. He wrote three plays and is the cowriter of the comic book Pirates vs. Ninjas II. Goodwin is also an accomplished journalist, having won several awards for his work as a columnist and reporter. Rod Espinosa has worked in advertising, software entertainment, and ¿lm. Today, he produces stunning graphic novels including Dinowars, Neotopia, Metadocs, Battle Girls, and many others. His graphic novel Courageous Princess was nominated for an Eisner Award, and Neotopia was nominated for the Max und Moritz Award.

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bequeath – to hand down. deify – to make an object of worship. disposition – a person’s usual attitude or mood. loathe – to be reluctant. mirth – laughing to show happiness. peasant – a person of low social status. perforce – by force. prithee – a way to make a request. quotidian – commonplace or everyday. revelry – noisy party-making. sport – a word meaning “amusements.” trow – a word meaning “know.”

To learn more about William Shakespeare, visit ABDO Group online at www.abdopublishing.com. Web sites about Shakespeare are featured on our Book Links page. These links are routinely monitored and updated to provide the most current information available. 48