# Silvius — As You Like It character guide

> Silvius in As You Like It by William Shakespeare.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** gentle Silvius, Silvius Phebe, Silvius O Corin, Enter Silvius, Exit Silvius, Silvius Sweet Phebe

**First appearance:** 0009-act-ii-scene-iv

## Snapshot

A young shepherd so helplessly in love with the scornful Phebe that he lectures the old shepherd Corin on what real loving costs.

## Who they are

Silvius belongs to the working forest world of Arden, a shepherd whose entire emotional life orbits a woman who will not have him. When Corin advises that his pining only makes Phebe scorn him more, Silvius insists the old man cannot possibly understand a passion this total — and then proves his point by bolting mid-sentence, crying her name. His ridiculous, sincere devotion mirrors Rosalind's own lovesick state and gives the play its measuring stick for how love makes fools of everyone.

## Relationships

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

_social_

Rosalind interacts with Silvius as a fellow lover in the forest, offering advice and mocking his excessive devotion to Phebe.

### [Phebe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_you_like_it_se/characters/phebe)

_romantic_

Phebe cruelly rejects Silvius's devoted love while he remains hopelessly obsessed with her.

## In the story

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

A lovelorn shepherd who passionately laments his unrequited love for Phebe, then abruptly exits.

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

Pleads with Phebe for her love, is scorned, but agrees to carry her letter to Ganymede.

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

Delivers Phebe's letter to Rosalind and is sent back with a message.

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

Describes the nature of his love for Phebe in a poetic exchange, agreeing to meet the next day.

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

Finally wins Phebe's hand as she agrees to marry him.

## Links

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