VIII

THE MORAL ELEMENT

The moral side of the Play consists, according to the Introduction in
the First Folio Edition, in its persuasion toward an Arden of the
disposition, or a spirit of happy good will toward all men. How far
does this cover the lesson of the Play?

What is to be thought of the idea in the 'Ethics of "As You Like It"'
(_Poet-lore_, Vol. III., p. 498, Oct., 1891), that Touchstone's
opinion of a shepherd's life (III. ii.) is the key-note of the play?
Are the references to fortune in the play significant? Dr. F.J.
Furnivall says: "What we most prize is misfortune borne with cheery
mind, the sun of man's spirit shining through and dispersing the
clouds which try to shade it. This is the spirit of the play." Of this
Dr. Ingleby says: "The moral of the play is much more concrete than
this. It is not how to bear misfortune with a cheery mind, but _how to
read_ the lessons in the vicissitudes of physical nature." C.A.
Wurtzburg says: "The deep truths that may be gathered from the play
are the innate dignity of the human spirit, before which every
conventionality of birth, rank, education, even of natural ties, must
give way." Give arguments drawn from the play in favor of or against
all of these suggestions. Is it an evidence of Shakespeare's intention
to be a moral teacher that he altered the fate of Duke Frederick?

QUERY FOR DISCUSSION