# Oliver — As You Like It character guide

> Oliver in As You Like It by William Shakespeare.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Oliver Orlando, Oliver Many, good Master Oliver, O brave Oliver, Sir Oliver Martext, Sir Oliver, Sir Oliver Martext Truly

**First appearance:** 0002-act-i-scene-i

## Snapshot

Orlando's elder brother, who schemes to destroy him before a strange rescue in the forest turns his hatred into shame and love.

## Who they are

Oliver inherits the estate and the power to make his younger brother's life miserable, denying him education and plotting his death. He arrives in Arden hunting Orlando and instead becomes the ragged sleeper beneath the oak, saved from snake and lioness by the very man he wronged. His confession to Rosalind and Celia — that he is not the man he was — turns him into one of the play's most striking conversions and ties the court's cruelty to the forest's capacity for change.

## Relationships

### [Rosalind](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_you_like_it_se/characters/rosalind)

_romantic_

Oliver falls in love with Rosalind's cousin Celia (disguised as Aliena) and marries her, becoming Rosalind's brother-in-law.

### [Touchstone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_you_like_it_se/characters/touchstone)

_social_

Oliver and Touchstone have minimal direct interaction, mostly as fellow travelers in the forest.

### [Charles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_you_like_it_se/characters/charles)

_professional_

Charles is a wrestler hired by Oliver to harm Orlando, acting as Oliver's instrument of malice.

### [Jaques](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_you_like_it_se/characters/jaques)

_social_

Jaques observes Oliver's transformation from villain to reformed man with cynical curiosity.

### [Touchstone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_you_like_it_se/characters/touchstone)

_social_

Oliver and Touchstone have minimal direct interaction, mostly as fellow travelers in the forest.

### [Jaques](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_you_like_it_se/characters/jaques)

_social_

Jaques observes Oliver's transformation from villain to reformed man with cynical curiosity.

### [Jaques](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_you_like_it_se/characters/jaques)

_social_

Jaques observes Oliver's transformation from villain to reformed man with cynical curiosity.

### [Touchstone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_you_like_it_se/characters/touchstone)

_social_

Oliver and Touchstone have minimal direct interaction, mostly as fellow travelers in the forest.

## In the story

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_you_like_it_se/chapters/act-i-scene-i)

Orlando's elder brother who denies him education and plots with Charles to harm him.

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_you_like_it_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-ii)

Ordered to be brought before Duke Frederick if Orlando cannot be found.

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_you_like_it_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-i)

Admits to hating his brother Orlando and is punished by Duke Frederick.

### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_you_like_it_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-iii)

Arrives to deliver Orlando's bloody napkin and recounts his rescue and conversion.

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_you_like_it_se/chapters/act-v-scene-ii)

Declares his sudden love for Aliena and his intention to marry her, offering Orlando his inheritance.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_you_like_it_se/characters/oliver
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_you_like_it_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_you_like_it_se/characters