Book Review: As You Like It by Shakespeare

This book review of As You Like It by Shakespeare is part of my Shakespeare Reading Quest.

This book review of As You Like It by Shakespeare may contain affiliate links, which means that I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Thanks for helping to support the content on this site.

So, As You Like It. Well, you might, but I didn’t. I’ve heard so much about it over the years and how it’s one of Shakespeare’s more lighthearted comedies, full of romance, mistaken identities, and clever wordplay. I’m not new to Shakespeare, and I’ve always enjoyed what I have read, so I was at least reasonably excited going into this. Unfortunately, this didn’t really work for me. I found it… well, just okay. That’s probably the best way to put it. Nothing about the characters, the comedy, or the drama really stood out to me at all. And I felt like I must be missing something when it comes to the humor—maybe I’m just too much of a simpleton from the modern era for it to land.

Unlike some of the other Shakespeare plays I’ve read, where I quickly got attached to the characters and cared about their struggles, As You Like It didn’t really make me feel much of anything. It felt like I was just going through the motions, kind of bored and distracted. Sure, there were some moments where I was like, “Oh, that’s clever,” but overall, it didn’t leave me with much of an impression. Even the comedy felt flat. I did enjoy the songs, though. Those were fun and a bit more memorable, but beyond that, this play didn’t quite do it for me.

I’m going to break down why I feel this way in more detail, but yeah—As You Like It ended up being a bit of a letdown for me.

Plot Summary

As You Like It is one of Shakespeare’s comedies, and like most comedies, it involves a lot of mistaken identities, disguises, and people falling in and out of love. The main character, Rosalind, is banished from her uncle’s court and ends up in the Forest of Arden, where she disguises herself as a man. Her cousin, Celia, goes with her, and they both find themselves caught up in the lives of various other characters who’ve also fled the court or live in the forest. Rosalind ends up falling in love with Orlando, a young man she met before her banishment. But Orlando doesn’t know it’s her because she’s disguised as Ganymede, a man. There’s a lot of confusion and romantic entanglements, with some characters falling for the wrong people, some pretending to be someone else, and a whole bunch of ridiculousness.

While this is going on, we also get some philosophical musings on life, love, and the nature of the world. There’s a bit of social commentary in there, too, mostly about the difference between the artificial life at court and the freedom found in the forest. But in the end, it’s mostly about who ends up with who and how everything works out in the most convenient way possible.

It’s got the usual Shakespearean mix of romance, humor, and mistaken identities. But honestly, I just didn’t feel super invested in the story. Sure, it has the basic elements of a fun play, but the execution just didn’t do much for me.

My Review

Strengths

I’ll give credit where it’s due—As You Like It has some strengths. The most obvious one is its language. Even though I struggled with a lot of the humor, there are still some really beautiful lines and phrases in the play. Shakespeare’s mastery of language is on full display, with clever wordplay, rhyming couplets, and some just-plain-beautiful dialogue. For example, when Rosalind delivers her “All the world’s a stage” monologue, it’s genuinely a powerful reflection on the human experience.

And while I didn’t totally vibe with the humor, I will say that there were a few moments that made me chuckle. The mix of confusion and mistaken identities does have potential for some good laughs. Some of the supporting characters are funny in their own right—like Touchstone, the fool. His jokes and banter with other characters provide some lightness and entertainment, even though I didn’t find them as funny as maybe I was supposed to.

Another thing I can’t deny is that the songs in the play are pretty catchy. A few of them are memorable and did stick with me after I finished the play. They felt like a nice break from all the confusion and drama, and I think they added some character to the overall experience.

Weaknesses

Here’s where my main frustrations with the play come in. First off, I just didn’t care about the characters. Not one of them really stood out to me or made me feel emotionally connected to their story. Rosalind, the main character, is supposed to be a strong and clever woman, but I felt like she was more of a plot device than a fully fleshed-out person. Same goes for Orlando. I didn’t really get why they were so in love with each other. Sure, they’re both attractive and they share some kind of connection, but I didn’t feel like it was enough to really carry the whole romance plot.

The biggest issue for me, though, is that the comedy just didn’t work. A lot of the humor in As You Like It feels dated. The wordplay and puns go over my head a lot, and while I get that this was the style of humor at the time, it didn’t do much for me. A lot of the jokes felt forced or just kind of… there. Maybe if I was more into Elizabethan-era humor, it would’ve worked, but as it is, I mostly just found myself skimming through the dialogue, waiting for something to grab my attention.

Also, the plot feels a bit meandering. It’s not a particularly tight story. There’s a lot of back-and-forth between characters and multiple twists that, while they’re supposed to be funny or dramatic, just seem like unnecessary filler. It’s a lot of “will they, won’t they” without much tension or payoff. The whole thing just felt like it dragged at times.

Who Should Read This Book?

I think if you’re a die-hard Shakespeare fan, you’ll probably find more to enjoy in As You Like It than I did. Of course, you’ve probably already read it dozens of times. Haha. If you like comedies that play with themes of love, identity, and mistaken identities, you might find it more engaging. People who enjoy analyzing Shakespeare’s language and his use of dramatic devices might also get a lot out of this play.

But if you’re not into the whole Shakespeare thing and you’re just looking for a fun, light read, this might not be the best starting point. The humor is a bit hard to follow for the modern reader at times, and the plot doesn’t have the same emotional pull as some of Shakespeare’s other works. If you’re not already familiar with his style or interested in his themes, you might struggle to connect with this one.

Parting Thoughts

I really wanted to enjoy As You Like It more than I did. To be fair, there are some parts of it that I can appreciate, like the language, a few catchy songs, and the potential for humor. Jacques’ famous speech about the seven stages of life was thought-provoking. But ulimately, I didn’t feel like this lived up to its reputation. The characters didn’t connect for me, and the comedy was a bit of a stretch. It felt like I was just going through the motions, waiting for something to grab my attention, and it never really did.

So, while I can see why people love it, this one didn’t hit the mark for me. Yes, it has its moments, but nothing blew me away. Maybe it will need a re-read one day, but that might be a while (if ever). I’m giving it 2 out of 5 stars. If you’re into Shakespeare, give it a try. But if you’re new to his work, you might want to start with something else first.

Rating Breakdown

Other Books You Might Enjoy

• Book Review of A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare
• Book Review of The Sandman Book Two by Neil Gaiman

About the Author

William Shakespeare was born in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. He is often called the greatest writer in the English language and wrote 39 plays, 154 sonnets, and several poems. His plays include famous works like Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Macbeth, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Shakespeare’s plays were performed at the Globe Theatre in London, where he became well-known. Many of his plays explore themes like love, power, and betrayal. Although he did not win any formal awards during his lifetime, his influence on literature and theater is still felt today. Shakespeare died in 1616, but his work continues to be celebrated around the world.

---

Thanks for reading this book review of As You Like It by Shakespeare! If you liked this review or you would like to see something different in my reviews, please feel free to leave me some feedback!