Shakespeares As You Like It - The Philosophy of Jaques :: Shakespeare As You Like It Essays

The Philosophy of Jaques in As You kindred It     Jaques is one of the characters in Shakespeares comedy As You Like It. We- as audience and readers- learn that although he was previously a libertine, he now seems to have turned to philosophy in his quest for a new-make identity. As a philosopher he questions much of what he sees around him.             At one point Jaques analyses what it is to be a man (II,vii, 60-166). He sees the world as a stage wherein men and women are players, and their different ages represent different acts and scenes in the play. His de rule bookions suggest that the roles are largely beyond the players control that a script for the play has already been written by an exterior force. But there is a sense of contradiction in all in all this the stages Jaques outlines for us (presented to his audience as universal) do not account for his own role. Since this is the case we must either presume that Jacques is somehow exceptional or that the roles are not as unflinching as people imagine. One can always argue that Jaques is an outcast of some sort. On the other hand, the Duke Senior is eager to offer him a put down at court, thereby giving him an opportunity to obtain an acceptable role within the framework of a hierarchical, society, but Jaques turns down the offer. He needs to emit his horizon, and is so impatient about learning more that he does not even stay to celebrate with the rest of the ukes men.To see no pastime, I. (V,iv,194). Instead he wants to go to Duke Frederick Out of these convertites,/ There is much matter to be heard and learnd (V,iv,183-184).             Jaques has no particular reside in being part of an established society. He creates his own role and his own destiny. By his mere presence in the play we are made aware of the infinite choices that confront human beings in their lives. Rosalind is the only o ther character in As You Like It who really challenges established roles, but whereas she (in all likelihood) returns to court and is satisfied with the new development (after all, she brought it about), Jacques is unwilling to let go of his freedom and independence introduced to him in the green world.             Jaques first attempts to challenge established norms by putting on a fools appearance O that I were a fool/ I am ambitious for a miscellany coat.