As You Like It · Chapter
Scene III explained
Rosalind and Celia are in the forest when Silvius delivers a letter from Phebe, which Rosalind reads aloud and interprets as a love letter despite Phebe's harsh words.
What happens
Rosalind and Celia are in the forest when Silvius delivers a letter from Phebe, which Rosalind reads aloud and interprets as a love letter despite Phebe's harsh words. Silvius is sent back with a message. Oliver then arrives, seeking the shepherds' cote, and delivers a bloody napkin from Orlando, recounting how Orlando saved Oliver from a lioness and was wounded. Rosalind faints upon hearing the news, but recovers, insisting it was counterfeit.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Falling action.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This is the dramatic climax because Rosalind, who has been orchestrating the pastoral love games from a positi…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Disguise and Deception
Rosalind's fainting and subsequent claim of counterfeiting highlight the theme of deception, as she hides her true emotions behind a mask of play.
- Brotherly Conflict and Reconciliation
Oliver's conversion and Orlando's rescue of his brother demonstrate the resolution of their earlier conflict.
Characters to notice
- Rosalind
Receives Phebe's letter and interprets it; faints upon hearing of Orlando's wound, then claims it was counterfeit.
- Celia
Accompanies Rosalind, pities Silvius, and helps identify Oliver's destination.
- Silvius
Delivers Phebe's letter to Rosalind and is sent back with a message.
- Oliver
Arrives to deliver Orlando's bloody napkin and recounts his rescue and conversion.
- Orlando
Referenced as having saved Oliver from a lioness and sending a bloody napkin to Rosalind.
Key passages
“Patience herself would startle at this letter And play the swaggerer; bear this, bear all: She says I am not fair, that I lack manners; She calls me proud, and that she could not love me, Were man as rare as phoenix.”
Even Patience would be shocked by this letter and act aggressively; she says I'm not handsome, that I'm rude, and that she couldn't love me even if I were as rare as a phoenix.
Rosalind reacts to Phebe's harsh letter.
“But kindness, nobler ever than revenge, And nature, stronger than his just occasion, Made him give battle to the lioness, Who quickly fell before him.”
But kindness, which is always nobler than revenge, and natural instinct, stronger than his justified reason, made him fight the lioness, who quickly fell to him.
Oliver describes Orlando's decision to rescue him despite past wrongs.
