Very Short Summary
In a French duchy, Orlando was denied his inheritance and education by his elder brother Oliver. After winning a wrestling match at Duke Frederick's court, Orlando met and fell in love with Rosalind, the daughter of the banished Duke Senior.
Duke Frederick banished Rosalind from court, prompting her to flee to the Forest of Arden with her cousin Celia. Rosalind disguised herself as a young man named Ganymede, while Celia posed as his sister Aliena.
Orlando also fled to the forest to escape his brother's murderous plots. There, he posted love poems to Rosalind on trees. Still disguised as Ganymede, Rosalind encountered Orlando and offered to cure his lovesickness by pretending to be Rosalind and having him woo her.
In the forest, the melancholy Jaques philosophized about life while observing the various lovers and exiles.
All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances, And one man in his time plays many parts, His acts being seven ages.
Meanwhile, Oliver arrived in the forest searching for Orlando, but Orlando saved his life from a lioness. This act of kindness transformed Oliver, who fell in love with Celia. Touchstone, the court fool who accompanied the women, decided to marry a goatherd named Audrey, while the shepherd Silvius pursued the disdainful Phebe, who had fallen in love with 'Ganymede'.
Finally, Rosalind revealed her true identity and orchestrated four marriages: herself to Orlando, Celia to Oliver, Touchstone to Audrey, and Phebe to Silvius. News arrived that Duke Frederick had converted to a religious life and restored the duchy to Duke Senior. The couples celebrated their weddings with a feast, while Jaques departed to join the converted Duke Frederick in his religious life.
Detailed Summary by Acts
Act titles and their subdivision into sections are editorial.
Act 1. Family Conflicts and Banishment
Orlando's Rebellion and the Wrestling Match
The play opened with Orlando, the youngest son of Sir Rowland de Boys, confronting his elder brother Oliver about his poor treatment and denied inheritance. Despite being of noble birth, Orlando was kept in poverty and denied proper education by his jealous brother.
Learning of Orlando's plan to compete in Duke Frederick's wrestling match, Oliver plotted with Charles, the court wrestler, to have Orlando killed in the contest. However, Orlando not only survived but won the match, earning the admiration of Duke Frederick's daughter Celia and his niece Rosalind.
Rosalind's Banishment and Escape Plan
Duke Frederick, who had previously usurped his brother's dukedom, suddenly banished Rosalind from court, despite her close friendship with his daughter Celia. His paranoia and jealousy of Rosalind's popularity drove him to this decision.
Refusing to be separated, Celia decided to flee with Rosalind to the Forest of Arden, where Rosalind's father, the banished Duke Senior, lived in exile. They devised a plan to travel in disguise - Rosalind as a young man named Ganymede, and Celia as his sister Aliena. They convinced the court fool Touchstone to accompany them on their journey.
Act 2. Life in the Forest of Arden
The Exiled Duke and His Followers
In the Forest of Arden, Duke Senior and his loyal followers had created a simple but contented life away from court corruption. Among them was the melancholy Jaques, whose philosophical musings provided a cynical counterpoint to the duke's optimistic outlook.
Sweet are the uses of adversity, Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in his head; And this our life exempt from public haunt Finds tongues in trees, books in running brooks
Orlando's Flight and Adam's Loyalty
Meanwhile, Orlando was forced to flee his home after learning that Oliver planned to kill him. His elderly servant Adam offered his life savings and companionship, accompanying Orlando to the Forest of Arden. Near starvation, they encountered Duke Senior's camp, where they were warmly welcomed and offered food and shelter.
Act 3. Love and Deception in Arden
Rosalind's Game with Orlando
In the forest, Orlando expressed his love for Rosalind by posting love poems on trees. Still disguised as Ganymede, Rosalind discovered these poems and encountered Orlando. She devised a plan to test his love, convincing him to court 'Ganymede' as if he were Rosalind, promising to cure him of his lovesickness.
Time travels in divers paces with divers persons. I'll tell you who Time ambles withal, who Time trots withal, who Time gallops withal, and who he stands still withal.
The Shepherds' Love Triangle
A parallel love story unfolded among the forest dwellers. Silvius, a young shepherd, was desperately in love with Phebe, a disdainful shepherdess. When Phebe encountered Rosalind in her male disguise, she fell in love with 'Ganymede,' creating a complex love triangle.
Act 4. Love Lessons and Revelations
Rosalind's Courtship Lessons
Rosalind, still in her male disguise, continued to test Orlando's love through their daily courtship practice. She alternated between skepticism about love's authenticity and her own barely concealed feelings for Orlando. Their witty exchanges revealed both the foolishness and the sincerity of romantic love.
Do you not know I am a woman? When I think, I must speak. Sweet, say on... The poor world is almost six thousand years old, and in all this time there was not any man died in his own person, videlicit, in a love-cause
Oliver's Transformation
Orlando's brother Oliver arrived in the forest, having been sent by Duke Frederick to find Orlando. After Orlando saved him from a lioness, Oliver experienced a profound change of heart. He repented his past cruelty and fell in love with Celia. Their sudden romance sparked both joy and melancholy in Orlando, who yearned for his own love to be fulfilled.
O, how bitter a thing it is to look into happiness through another man's eyes! By so much the more shall I tomorrow be at the height of heart-heaviness, by how much I shall think my brother happy
Act 5. Resolutions and Marriages
Multiple Weddings and Reconciliations
As the play reached its climax, Rosalind orchestrated a grand resolution to all the romantic entanglements. She promised to magically resolve everyone's love problems, arranging to meet all the couples the next day. Meanwhile, news arrived that Duke Frederick, while pursuing his brother with an army, had encountered an old religious man who converted him to a life of contemplation. He restored the dukedom to Duke Senior and returned to a life of solitude.
Men have died from time to time, and worms have eaten them, but not for love... I can live no longer by thinking... I will weary you then no longer with idle talking.
The following day, Rosalind appeared as herself and fulfilled all her promises. Four weddings were celebrated simultaneously: Rosalind to Orlando, Celia to Oliver, Touchstone to Audrey (a country girl he had wooed), and Silvius to Phebe, who accepted him once 'Ganymede' was revealed to be a woman. Duke Senior was restored to his rightful position, and the couples prepared to return to court.
Epilogue and Return to Court
The play concluded with Rosalind delivering an epilogue directly to the audience, breaking the theatrical illusion. She acknowledged the unusual nature of a female character addressing the audience and playfully suggested that if she were a woman, she would kiss all the men who pleased her. The epilogue served as a final reminder of the play's themes of gender roles, love, and the transformative power of the forest, where all conflicts were resolved and love triumphed over adversity.