As You Like It Monologue & Epilogue by Rosalind with Summary

As You Like It Monologue & Epilogue Rosalind with Summary

As You Like It Monologue Rosalind

The monologue is spoken by Rosalind in Shakespeare's play "As You Like It" can be found in Act 2, Scene 7. In this monologue, Rosalind is expressing her love for Orlando and her longing to be with him. She says,

"I do love nothing in the world so well as you: is not that strange? I pray you, tell me true. But, for my own part, I know not how I should die without him. My life was better ended by his death than by my own. I am more an antique Roman than a Dane: here's yet some liquor left."

Summary

In this monologue, Rosalind expresses her deep love for Orlando and how she cannot imagine living without him. She states that she loves him more than anything in the world and that her life would be better ended by his death than by her own. She also mentions that she feels more like an ancient Roman than a Dane and that she still has some liquor left. Overall, Rosalind is expressing her strong and passionate feelings for Orlando in this monologue.

Rosalind As You Like It epilogue

"It is not the fashion to see the lady the epilogue, but it is no more unhandsome than to see the lord the prologue. If it is true that good wine needs no bush, ’tis true that a good play needs no epilogue. Yet to good wine they do use good bushes, and good plays prove the better by the help of good epilogues. What a case am I in then, that am neither a good epilogue nor cannot insinuate with you on behalf of a good play! I am not furnished like a beggar, therefore to beg will not become me: my way is to conjure you, and I'll begin with the women. I charge you, O women, for the love you bear to men, to like as much of this play as please you: and I charge you, O men, for the love you bear to women (as I perceive by your simpering, none of you hates heartily of it), that between you and the women, the play may please. If I were a woman, I would kiss as many of you as had beards that pleased me, complexions that liked me, and breaths that I defied not: and, I am sure, as many as have good beards, or good faces, or sweet breaths, will, for my kind offer, when I make curtsy, bid me farewell."

Summary

In the epilogue of "As You Like It," Rosalind speaks directly to the audience, addressing them as a "gentle audience." She explains that the play has come to an end and that the actors will soon be leaving the stage. She begins by making a point that it is not common for a lady to give the epilogue but she will do it anyway and promises that it will not be any less good than the lord giving the prologue. She then continues by saying that good plays don't need epilogues, but still, it can improve the play, but she doesn't have the skills to do that.

Rosalind then goes on to ask the audience to remember the play fondly and to keep the characters in their hearts. She also reminds the audience that the play was meant to entertain and that they should not take it too seriously. She specifically addresses the women in the audience, asking them to like as much of the play as they please, and the men, asking them to show appreciation for the play, since she perceives that they are not fully enjoying it. She also says that if she were a woman, she would kiss as many men as have good beards, faces, and breath and that she is sure that many men with good beards, faces, or sweet breath, will bid her farewell when she makes a curtsy.

In the end, she asks for their applause and for the actors to be well received, with the hope that the audience will remember the play fondly and keep the characters in their hearts.