As You Like It

The theory to truly belong, one must truly understand is seen through Shakespeare’s play As You Like It and artwork Self-Portrait on the Border Line Between Mexico and the United States by Frida Kahlo, as one’s inability to understand their own identity and the difference of others can lead to exclusion and alienation.  

As You Like It
In As You Like It, Oliver and Duke Frederick do not truly belong, as they do not fully understand. Their lack self-knowledge and understanding of identity results feelings of jealousy and selfishness, leading to the isolation and exclusion of others around them.

Duke Fredrick’s identity is built upon exclusiveness and is constituted by opposition to others, therefore lacking knowledge, understanding and acceptance. He is threatened by the success of others as demonstrated “She robs thee of thy name, and thou wilt show more bright and seem more virtuous when she is gone” with the use of the verbs rob and seem highlighting that Fredrick’s daughter, Celia will be more important once Rosalind is gone. Duke Fredrick banishes Rosalind with use of the imperative and line placement in   “Mistress, dispatch you with your safest haste and get you from our court” “Me uncle” “You cousin” illustrating that Rosalind has been marginalised and dislocated due to Frederick’s jealousy and hunger for glory. The ironic use of the family terms reinforces his lack of understanding and the belief that the enhancement of oneself means the diminution of another’s being.

Oliver too, like Duke Frederick lacks acceptance and understanding. In the opening paragraph, the use of dislocated syntax and frustrated tone, “Stays me here at home unkempt – call you that keeping for a gentleman of my birth” highlights Orlando’s annoyance and anger towards Oliver after being excluded from what is rightfully his.

Similarly, Frida Kahlo’s Self-Portrait on the Border Line Between Mexico and the United States illustrates that to truly...