Samantha Souza

Shakespeare NLIT 3210

Nicholas Burns
October 20, 2009
As You Like It versus Twelfth Night
While reading As You Like It, I couldnt help but think that it
was a far inferior version of Shakespeares (in my opinion) perfect
comedy, Twelfth Night. The similarities are immeasurable. William
Shakespeare wrote As You Like It two years before Twelfth Night,
giving him adequate time to take the basic ideas executed in the
former play (a woman dressed as a man teaches the man she loves
how to woo another woman, a jester, etc), and improve upon them.
After those improvements were made, he incorporated them into,
what I believe to be the far superior Twelfth Night.
I believe As You Like It is supposed to be humorous, but I didnt
find myself entertained. It seemed almost ridiculous for a man to not
recognize his new friend, Ganymede, as simply Rosalind in mens

clothing. Twelfth Night played this off much better because Duke
Orsino had not ever met Viola in her maiden state. Also, while
Orlando is desperately seeking the love of Rosalind (who happens to
be dressed as Ganymede), Orsino was seeking the love of an entirely
different woman, Olivia, giving a more interesting plot scheme.
Olivias love therefore seems more pure, because she selflessly helps
Orsino in his attempt to win the love of another woman. She loves
him that much. Rosalind comes off as sneaky, childish, and tricky,
because she could easily tell Orlando her true identity, and she
doesnt. She plays mind games with him until she has him exactly
where she wants him. This seems underhanded, mean and
manipulative to me. Rosalinds love does not seem selfless and true,
as Violas does in Twelfth Night.

In addition, because of the complication of the

Viola/Orsino/Olivia love triangle, the ending seems far less obvious
and sophomore than As You Like It. In that play, we already know
that Orlando loves Rosalind, and its just a matter of how and when
he is going to find out that she is, in fact, his helpful friend

Ganymede. What is the fun in that? The audience feels sorry for Viola
because her love interest is in love with another woman, who
happened to be in love with her! How is this all going to work itself
out? Just because the audience KNOWS it is going to work it out
doesnt mean they know how (or rather, WANT to know how) right
away. That makes it more fun, and far superior than As You Like It,
which plot line, while not completely devoid of fun, is elementary and
easy to unscramble. Also, in my opinion, I found Rosalind unlikable
because she behaves immaturely.

Twelfth Night and As You Like It both feature a slightly

delusional woman who is in love with the female protagonist who is
disguised like a gentleman. In As You Like It, Phebe is in love with
Rosalind, dressed as Ganymede. In Twelfth Night, Olivia is in love
with Viola, dressed as Cesario. Both Ganymede and Cesario meet
their respective ladies in an attempt to match them with someone
else, only to find that those ladies have fallen for them! The problem
with As You Like It in this aspect is that upon discovering that
Ganymede is, in fact, Rosalind, she agrees to marry Silvius. It almost

seems like Phebe is settling, and while she isnt the most likeable
character in As You Like It, the audience doesnt like to see anyone
settle for someone else after losing their love. In Twelfth Night,
however, Olivia falls for Viola/Cesario, but accidentally marries
Violas twin brother Sebastian, thinking it is Cesario. Sebastian falls
in love with Olivia, and when all find out Cesarios true identity, it
doesnt matter, because everyone gets what they want, especially
Orsino and Viola, who love each other, after all. Once again, Twelfth
Night improves upon As You Like It.
Another difference between Cesario and Ganymede is class and
social status. In the Forest of Ardenne, there are no rules. In Illyria,
there are Dukes, Counts, masters and servants. Cesario must obey the
orders of her Duke Orsino, and she cannot challenge Olivia because
her rank is higher than hers. This complicates all of their interactions,
because Viola cannot act freely. Rosalind can do however she pleases
hidden under the guise of Ganymede, however. This leads her to
match certain people with others, play mind games, and traipse
around the Forrest having her fun. It is far less interesting, because
there is far less struggle.

The two plays both have a curmudgeon, as well. As You Like It

has Jacques and Twelfth Night has Malvolio. Both find all things
amusing instead quite frustrating, and because of that, they do not get
along smoothly with the rest of the jolly, romantic characters. Both
characters are at odds with the entire feel of the rest of the play,
breaking them up, and giving somewhat of a foiled perspective. While
Jacques admires the fool, Touchstone, Malvolio finds the fool, Feste,
tiresome and unnecessary. Touchstone may be a bit more successful
in his wit than Feste, but Feste is older, and somewhat sad. The songs
he sings always have a melancholy undertone, while maintainging
their cleverness. Festes character is much more fleshed out than
Touchstones, putting Twelfth Night over the top.

All in all, As You Like It and Twelfth Night have copious

amounts of identical plot points and characters. To say that Twelfth
Night is better is almost unfair, because it seems as if it is simply
Shakespeares improvement on an existing story, ironically written by
Shakespeare himself. It is possible to suppose that Shakespeare
wouldnt purposefully create two stories so similar without it being

intentional. But, if considered as completely separate, unrelated

plays, Twelfth Night is the finer, more advanced of the two because
the female protagonist has a fuller depth of love, the plot is less
predictable, and the supporting characters are more fleshed out.