As You Like It recap

After the usurping Duke Frederick banishes Rosalind, she escapes to the Forest of Arden with her cousin Celia and the fool Touchstone, disguised as a young man named Ganymede. Orlando, mistreated by his brother Oliver, also flees to Arden and joins the exiled Duke Senior. He covers the forest with poems to Rosalind. Still disguised, Rosalind offers to cure his lovesickness by having him court Ganymede as if Ganymede were Rosalind. Around them, Touchstone woos Audrey, Silvius pursues the scornful Phebe, and Phebe falls for Ganymede. Orlando saves Oliver from danger; Oliver repents and immediately falls in love with Celia. Rosalind arranges the resolution: she reveals herself and marries Orlando, Celia marries Oliver, Phebe accepts Silvius, and Touchstone marries Audrey. Duke Frederick abandons his attack on the exiles after meeting a hermit, restoring the dukedom to Duke Senior. The forest has transformed political exile, family hatred, and confused courtship into reconciliation.

Orlando, youngest son of the late Sir Rowland de Boys, protests that his elder brother Oliver has denied him the education and status intended by their father. Oliver responds by encouraging the court wrestler Charles to injure him. At Duke Frederick's court, Rosalind grieves for her exiled father, Duke Senior, while her cousin Celia tries to cheer her. Orlando defeats Charles despite warnings about the danger, and he and Rosalind are immediately drawn to one another. Frederick, who usurped Duke Senior, then abruptly banishes Rosalind. Celia refuses to remain without her and plans to flee with her. Rosalind will travel disguised as a young man called Ganymede, Celia as Ganymede's sister Aliena, and the fool Touchstone goes with them. Meanwhile, Oliver continues plotting against Orlando.

Duke Senior and his followers live in the Forest of Arden, where the duke finds value in a simpler life and Jaques turns every sight into reflection. In the de Boys household, old Adam warns Orlando that Oliver means to kill him and offers his savings so they can escape together. Rosalind, Celia, and Touchstone reach Arden exhausted. They meet the shepherds Corin and Silvius, hear of Silvius's hopeless love for Phebe, and arrange to purchase a cottage and flock. Orlando and Adam also arrive in desperate need of food. Orlando bursts into Duke Senior's company with a sword, but the exiles respond with hospitality; after he brings Adam to safety, the duke recognizes him as Sir Rowland's son and welcomes both men. Their separate flights have now brought Rosalind and Orlando into the same forest without either yet knowing it.

Orlando hangs love poems to Rosalind throughout Arden. Rosalind finds them and learns from Celia that their author is Orlando. Maintaining her identity as Ganymede, she meets him and claims she can cure his love by making him practice courtship with Ganymede acting as Rosalind. This allows her to test and tease him while hiding how deeply she returns his feelings. Elsewhere, Touchstone courts the country woman Audrey and seeks a quick marriage. Rosalind and Celia witness Silvius pleading with Phebe, who treats him contemptuously. Ganymede rebukes Phebe so forcefully that Phebe falls in love with the disguised Rosalind and uses Silvius to carry a letter to the new object of her affection. The forest's romances are now linked by mistaken identity and unequal desire.

Rosalind continues the courtship game with Orlando, even staging a mock wedding with Celia's help, but Orlando leaves to attend Duke Senior and fails to return on time. Oliver then appears with news of a profound change. Sent into the forest after Orlando, he was threatened by a snake and a lioness. Orlando saw him, overcame his anger, and saved his life, suffering an injury in the struggle. Oliver is ashamed of his former hatred. He gives Ganymede a bloodstained cloth from Orlando, at which Rosalind faints and then tries to preserve her disguise by calling the reaction an act. Celia and the reformed Oliver fall in love almost immediately. Their swift engagement intensifies Rosalind's impatience to end her own concealment and marry Orlando openly.

Rosalind promises Orlando, Phebe, and Silvius that she can settle every claim of love. She makes Phebe agree that if Phebe cannot marry Ganymede, she will accept Silvius. Rosalind then returns in her true identity. Orlando marries her; Oliver marries Celia; Phebe keeps her promise and marries Silvius; and Touchstone marries Audrey after dismissing another country suitor. Political restoration accompanies the weddings. Duke Frederick entered Arden intending to attack his exiled brother, but met a hermit and underwent a conversion, giving up both violence and the dukedom. Duke Senior regains his position, while the reconciled sons of Sir Rowland recover their family standing. Jaques declines the celebration and goes to seek out Frederick in his new life. The others prepare to leave Arden with their conflicts resolved, and Rosalind concludes by addressing the audience directly.

Rosalind, still directing events through her disguise as Ganymede, promises to resolve the forest's crossed romances. She returns as herself and marries Orlando. Celia marries the reformed Oliver; Phebe, unable to marry Ganymede once Rosalind's identity is known, honors her promise to accept Silvius; and Touchstone marries Audrey. The exiles also regain their political home. Duke Frederick had entered Arden intending violence against Duke Senior, but a religious hermit persuades him to abandon that purpose and renounce the dukedom. Duke Senior is restored, and Orlando and Oliver recover their proper places in the de Boys family. Most of the company prepares to return from the forest to court. Jaques chooses a different path, leaving to learn from the newly converted Frederick rather than joining the weddings. Rosalind closes by addressing the audience and asking their favor for the play.