William Shakespeare's play, "As You Like It," provides us with colorful characters and hidden meanings as reality becomes
a blur in the satirical forest of
Arden. This paper discusses how the search for freedom combined with exile, the hunt and the passion of love, leads us, as well as the characters, on a journey of discovery. It explains that, through his interesting mix of characters, Shakespeare combines the elements of romance and satire to reveal the beauty of love and the sometimes absurd behavior of lovers. The writer also points out that, while mocking the pretentious, Shakespeare celebrates genuine love in the mystical
garden of Arden.