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

The Philosophy of Jaques in As You Like It     Jaques is one of the causas 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 doctrine in his quest for a new 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 breaker point wherein men and women are prevailers, and their different ages represent different acts and scenes in the play. His descriptions declare 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 entirely 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 all presume that Jacques is somehow exceptional or that the roles are not as fixed as people imagine. One can always compete that Jaques is an outcast of some sort. On the other hand, the Duke Senior is eager to poke out him a position at court, thereby giving him an opportunity to obligate an acceptable role within the framework of a hierarchical, society, but Jaques turns eat up the offer. He needs to widen his horizon, and is so impatient about acquire more that he does not even stay to celebrate with the proportionality 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 interest in world part of an realised 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 t he only other 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 port O that I were a fool/ I am challenging for a motley coat.