As You Like It
Act 1 scene 1
Orlando tells us immediately of his conflict with Oliver. This speech initiates the theme of nature vs. nurture (heredity vs. environment). Oliver is not fulfilling his father's will (both his desire and his legal will). Orlando is not trained intellectually, emotionally; he gets only physical growth under Oliver. Orlando has all the trademarks of the Romantic hero. What he needs is culture, what we learn from civilization. He wants to have his ability nurtured so that he can become what he has the potential for. Oliver is violating the spirit of the law of primogenitor but not the letter. Orlando will become more like a romance character and thus fulfill his potential. Orlando's character will probably undergo the greatest change in the play. He will get the nurture he needs from Rosalind as Ganymede in the forest.
The theme of knowing oneself and understanding the character of others is first brought up here. Orlando know Oliver, but Oliver does not know Orlando.
This is our first view of the Forest of Arden. We expect an idealistic world because of the "golden world" reference. When we actually see this world, it is much rougher.
This provides the conflict which will send Orlando into the forest also. Oliver tries to kill Orlando twice, first through Charles the wrestler, and then by trying to burn his house with him in it. Oliver gives us a different view of Orlando which is positive; he says that people love Orlando more than Oliver, so they are compared to the disadvantage of Oliver. Oliver is envious of Orlando's personality. This is similar to Duke Frederick's motivation for banishing Duke Senior: envy.