Despite a clear emphasis on the “gentleness” of high ranking characters, As You Like It is primarily set in the undeveloped depths of the Forest of Arden. Strange events unfold in the Forest where the gentry are loosened from their honorable roots to explore their innermost desires. And yet, the “gentle” title never quite subsides. In the natural world where wealth lacks meaning, titles and roles are maintained in order to establish the inevitable socioeconomic differences while the “gentle” upper class takes on multiple dimensions of the word.

While the key word “gentle” holds the meaning of generosity and courtesy as well as soft and politeness according the Oxford Online Dictionary, the fraternal conflicts of power in this play considerably diminish these definitions from certain characters such as Duke Frederick and Oliver. Upon further research, I interestingly discovered that the word “gentle” can also represent “a maggot, the larva of the flesh-fly or bluebottle, employed as bait by anglers” (OED). And despite evident differences between the “gentle” of nobility, “well-born,” and even “kind,” this multidimensional word illuminated on characteristics of some of the gentry.

A maggot, even when allowed to live to its full lifespan, does not have much to offer the world. In fact, the flies that they evolve into seldom live long, fruitful lives. They are the ultimate symbol of trash and these squirming bugs burrow themselves into the discarded matter in search for food, ultimately replenishing the earth with natural fertilizer in the least desirable form of existence. In truth, I found that this was the very opposite of what the word “gentle” meant to represent within this play – the emphasis of privilege and prestige of certain characters. The ruthless, selfish sibling rivalry that results in the banishment of the less fortunate, less powerful siblings, however, suggested that perhaps, not all usages of “gentle” were to mean “of noble birth,” but rather to curse the vices of the wealth-hungry brothers of the fraternal feud. In a comical way, the word provides the victims of the powerful gentry with an appropriate curse for their misdeeds. I imagine that this is particularly useful for Adam, who is often mistreated by his master, Oliver, before he begs Orlando to take him on his journey to the Forest.

The Forest ultimately becomes a place where the “gentle” population embrace their forced “otherness” by adopting the furthest identities from their proper upbringing. More often than not, they take on the ironic, humorous definition of “the gentle craft” as highlighted by the OED. Hunting for food, living in the woods, shepherding followers, and adopting the identity of an opposite sex are only some of the ways that these high class nobles disguise themselves, inching themselves away from their naturally born state. Rosalind, in particular, transforms into “Ganymede,” the “Joves’s own page” and dons the doublet and hose while being a different kind of “gentle.” In an attempt to blend in with the other men, primarily Orlando, she naturally assumes the identity of a man. Smoothly, Rosalind transitions from her gentle birth to an ironic, comical gentility.

While some of these characters return to their original post after the couples are paired accordingly, some choose to carry their gentleness elsewhere, as Jacque and Duke Frederick go off to their newfound religious duties. The state of “gentleness” maintains its place in the well-born characters, but like a maggot, it holds the potential to evolve into different stages.