The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 15.1333  Tuesday, 22 June 2004

From:           Jack Hettinger <
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Date:           Monday, 21 Jun 2004 16:27:03 -0400
Subject:        As You Like It in the Classroom

Jack Heller,

You write of a successful experience teaching Lear, then say, "As You
Like It, on the other hand, defeated me utterly in the classroom."

I'd like to hear what happened in your classroom. I've had good students
tire of AYLI by the fourth act: Rosalind is "so manipulative," "Orlando
saw through her disguise right off," "What are the shepherds doing in
the play?" A few noisily dismiss the last act because Rosalind is
drowned out by male authority, and where did Hymen come from? Also the
sudden conversion of Duke Frederick. Then there are some problems
appreciating Shakespeare's ironic pastoral, plus some trouble seeing how
Jaques' Seven Ages speech is contradicted by the forest company's care
of Adam. And that's not all of it.

Jack Hettinger
College of Mount St Joseph

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