The Convolutions of Comedy

"Duke Frederick, hearing how that every day Men of great worth resorted to this forest, Address'd a mighty power; which were on foot, In his own conduct, purposely to take His brother here and put him to the sword: And to the skirts of this wild wood he came Where meeting with an old religious man, After some question with him, was converted Both from his enterprise and from the world;" -V.iv.78

     One of my first reflections upon finishing "As You Like It" was the complicated and somewhat confusing twists and jumps in the plot. Apparently, such an element is characteristic of Shakespearean comedy. Now that I think about the reason and purpose behind mixing multiple characters with their own agendas, I realize that the constant diversions to the characters of the play serves to lessen the intensity and suspense of the play. The above quote is a representation of the quick and unexpected plot twists that have a significant effect on the play as a whole. This excerpt comes from a point in the play, the end, when the plot elements are being concluded. Although it is brief and unexpected, the dialogue that takes place here is instrumental to the resolution of the play. I believe that this trend throughout the play serves to emphasize the many storylines. Because they are brief, the reader is able to better remember the advancement of the plot through these scenes. However, the scenes which involve more complicated characters like Orlando, Rosalind, and Jaques are usually longer, which indicates that these characters may be more important.