As You Like It Characters

One of the lords that joins Duke Senior in the forest, Amiens is jovial and often singing.

The middle brother of Sir Rowland de Boys, Jaques enters at the end of the play to inform the crowd of Duke Frederick’s religious transformation.

The father of Jaques, Oliver, and Orlando, Sir Rowland de Boys died before the action of the play. The division of his inheritance characterizes his sons’ relationship and competitiveness toward one another.

One of Duke Frederick’s courtiers, Monsieur Le Beau informs Celia and Rosalind of the coming wrestling match between Orlando and Charles, and, later, Orlando of the identity of Duke Senior’s daughter, Rosalind.

A court wrestler, Charles tries to convince Oliver to prevent Orlando from fighting with him, because he considers himself very likely to win and perhaps harm Orlando. Ultimately, however, he loses the match (and his reputation).

The loyal servant to Orlando and, before him, Sir Rowland de Boys, Adam warns Orlando of his brother’s murderous plans, and accompanies him in his exile to the Forest of Arden.

The court fool, Touchstone accompanies Celia and Rosalind, at their request, into the Forest of Arden. He is witty, silly, and bawdy, but his fooling is seldom foolish. At the end of the play, he marries Audrey.

Oliver’s servant.

A country curate who arrives to marry Touchstone and Audrey, when Touchstone decides that they will be married in a church instead.

A shepherd who adores Phebe with slavish devotion, even though his love is not reciprocated. He is a ridiculous model of the traditional pastoral tradition of the male lover scorned by his beloved.

A fellow shepherd and friend of Silvius, Corin tries, to no avail, to counsel Silvius on the subject of love, and helps Rosalind and Celia purchase the sheep flock and cottage.

A dull shepherdess, Phebe rejects Silvius’s love, and instead falls in love at first sight with Ganymede. When Ganymede becomes Rosalind again, however, she contentedly marries Silvius. Just as Silvius is a ridiculous example of a scorned lover, Phebe is a parody of a scornful beloved.

A young boy of the country who loves Audrey, but cannot compete with Touchstone's more wicked and complex wit.

God of marriage, Hymen reunites Rosalind with her father and lover, and sings songs of love at the collective wedding.

Touchstone’s beautiful but not very poetic or intelligent bride.

The First and Second lord keep Duke Senior company in exile in the Forest of Arden.

Celia's gentlewoman.