# Touchstone — As You Like It character guide

> Touchstone in As You Like It by William Shakespeare.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Touchstone God, Master Touchstone, Touchstone Aside, Touchstone One that old Frederick, good Touchstone, Touchstone Mistress, Holla Touchstone, Holla

**First appearance:** 0003-act-i-scene-ii

## Snapshot

The court jester who follows Rosalind and Celia into Arden and courts a goatherd named Audrey with the same wit he uses to deflate everyone else.

## Who they are

Touchstone is the licensed fool whose job is to say what courtiers cannot, and he takes that license into the forest like a man carrying a weapon he intends to use. He falls for Audrey, a woman he describes in terms of meat and dishes, and his courtship is a parody of every romantic convention the play otherwise indulges. He matters because he keeps the comedy honest: while Orlando hangs sonnets on trees, Touchstone is negotiating a marriage under a bush with a hedge-priest, and his cynicism is not the opposite of love but one of its many dialects.

## Relationships

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

_friendship_

Rosalind and Touchstone share a witty, bantering companionship as courtly companions in the forest.

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

_friendship_

Jaques enjoys debating and philosophizing with Touchstone, appreciating the fool's wit and cynicism.

### [Oliver](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_you_like_it_se/characters/oliver)

_social_

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

### [Audrey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_you_like_it_se/characters/audrey)

_romantic_

Touchstone pursues a crude, comedic romance with the simple goatherd Audrey, eventually marrying her.

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

_friendship_

Jaques enjoys debating and philosophizing with Touchstone, appreciating the fool's wit and cynicism.

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

_friendship_

Rosalind and Touchstone share a witty, bantering companionship as courtly companions in the forest.

### [Oliver](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_you_like_it_se/characters/oliver)

_social_

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

### [Oliver](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/as_you_like_it_se/characters/oliver)

_social_

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

## In the story

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

Engages in witty banter with Rosalind and Celia about oaths and honor.

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

Mentioned as the clownish fool they plan to bring along for comfort.

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

Reported missing from court, believed to be accompanying the ladies.

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

Jests about his weariness and recalls his own past love follies, providing comic relief.

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

Debates with Corin about court vs. country life.

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

Attempts to marry Audrey in the forest, philosophizes about marriage and horns, and is counseled by Jaques.

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

Touchstone asserts his claim to Audrey and intimidates William with witty threats.

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

Anticipates his marriage to Audrey and criticizes the pages' song.

## Links

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