
THIS ELECTRONIC VERSION OF THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE IS COPYRIGHT 1990-1993 BY WORLD LIBRARY, INC., AND IS PROVIDED BY PROJECT GUTENBERG ETEXT OF CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY WITH PERMISSION.
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DRAMATIS PERSONAE.
SCENE: OLIVER'S house; FREDERICK'S court; and the Forest of Arden - ACT I. SCENE I. Orchard of OLIVER'S house
SCENE II. A lawn before the DUKE'S palace
SCENE III. The DUKE's palace
SCENE II. The DUKE'S palace
SCENE III. Before OLIVER'S house
SCENE IV. The Forest of Arden
In this lively pastoral comedy, a young nobleman—recently displaced from court—finds refuge in the idyllic Forest of Arden, where he adopts a humble disguise and encounters a vibrant community of outcasts, lovers, and poets. Among them is his spirited sister, who has also been forced into exile, and together they navigate the freer, if unpredictable, rhythms of woodland life. The forest becomes a stage for witty banter, clever wordplay, and a series of romantic entanglements that test loyalties and reveal hidden desires.
The play balances humor with thoughtful reflection, inviting listeners to consider the contrasts between courtly ambition and rustic simplicity. As characters trade disguises and verses, the forest’s natural setting encourages both mischief and moments of sincere self‑discovery. By the end of the first act, the audience is left with a sense of playful anticipation, eager to see how love and identity will continue to unfold amid the trees.
Language
en
Duration
~2 hours (130K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
1999-06-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1564–1616
A playwright, poet, and actor from Stratford-upon-Avon, he created characters and lines that have stayed alive for more than four centuries. His stories of love, ambition, jealousy, power, and forgiveness still feel startlingly human.
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