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Act 1
Scene 1
After their father's death, Orlando is mistreated by his greedy brother Oliver, who attempts to get Orlando hurt in an upcoming wrestling match against Charles.
Read a full Summary & Analysis of Act 1: Scene 1.
Scene 2
After winning the wrestling match, Orlando falls in love with Rosalind, the niece of Duke Fredrick. Duke Fredrick was an enemy of Orlando's late father.
Scene 3
Duke Fredrick banishes Rosalind, who, along with Celia and the court jester Touchstone, travel to the Forest of Ardenne. Rosalind disguises herself as a man, while Celia disguises herself as a shepherdess.
Read a full Summary & Analysis of Act 1: Scenes 3 & 4.
Act 2
Scene 1
Duke Senior prefers living in the woods to his life at court, which he found artificial and empty.
Scene 2
Furious at the disappearance of his daughter and niece, Duke Fredrick summons Oliver, because Duke Fredrick believes that the women have run off with Orlando.
Scene 3
Adam warns Orlando that Oliver plans to burn Orlando in his sleep. The two men decide to leave the city.
Scene 4
In the Forest of Ardenne, Rosalind, Celia, and Touchtone encounter two shepherds, Corin, and the love-struck Silvius, who is hopelessly in love with the shepherdess Phoebe. Rosalind and Celia decide to buy a property in the forest.
Read a full Summary & Analysis of Act 2: Scenes 1–4.
Scene 5
Jaques is wallowing in his own depression. He has written a song that suggests he thinks Duke Senior’s decision to live in the forest was a foolish choice.
Scene 6
Adam cannot keep walking through the forest because he is so hungry. Orlando continues on alone to find food for Adam.
Scene 7
Duke Senior and Jaques are bantering, when Orlando bursts out of the forest demanding food. Duke Senior realizes that Orlando is the son of Sir Rowland, the duke’s old friend.
Read a full Summary & Analysis of Act 2: Scenes 5–7.
Act 3
Scene 1
Duke Fredrick warns Oliver that if Oliver doesn’t find Orlando within one year’s time, Duke Fredrick will take all of his lands and wealth.
Scene 2
Rosalind (disguised as Ganymede) meets the love-struck Orlando in the forest. She tells him that she can cure him, but he must agree to woo her every day as if she were Rosalind. He agrees.
Read a full Summary & Analysis of Act 3: Scenes 1 & 2.
Scene 3
Touchstone plans to marry Audrey, and even has a vicar ready to perform the wedding, but Jaques convinces Touchstone to wait to do it in a real church.
Scene 4
Rosalind is distraught because Orlando has not arrived for his daily meeting with her (as Ganymede). Corin tells Rosalind and Celia that they should come watch Silvius try to woo the disinterested Phoebe.
Scene 5
Rosalind (disguised as Ganymede) berates Phoebe for her cruel rejection of Silvius, but Phoebe falls in love with Ganymede and employs Silvius to help her pursue him.
Read a full Summary & Analysis of Act 3: Scenes 3–5.
Act 4
Scene 1
Rosalind (disguised as Ganymede) gives Orlando a lesson in love, teasing him, and warning him about the difficulties of women. Rosalind later confesses to Celia that her love for Orlando has grown even stronger.
Scene 2
Jaques and some of the other nobles sing a song about how all men are cheated on by their wives.
Read a full Summary & Analysis of Act 4: Scenes 1 & 2.
Scene 3
Rosalind receives a love letter from Phoebe, but rejects it. Oliver reports that Orlando was injured while saving Oliver from a lion attack.
Read a full Summary & Analysis of Act 4: Scene 3.
Act 5
Scene 1
Touchstone insults William, a young would-be suitor who is interested in Audrey.
Scene 2
Oliver wants to marry Aliena (who is Celia in disguise), and Rosalind (disguised as Ganymede) sets up other pairings. She tells Orlando that Rosalind will be at the wedding, and she promises Phoebe that she will marry her, if she marries any woman at all.
Scene 3
Touchstone and Audrey discuss their married future, while a pair of pages sing a nonsensical song about love.
Read a full Summary & Analysis of Act 5: Scenes 1–3.
Scene 4
Rosalind and Celia remove their disguises and all the expected couples marry. News arrives that Duke Fredrick found God and decided to become a monk, so everyone can safely return to court.
Epilogue
The gender-bending theme of the play and the fact that male actors played the female parts when the play was written are brought to the fore as the (male) actor playing Rosalind addressess the audience soliciting the approval and the applause of the women and men in the audience.
Read a full Summary & Analysis of Act 5: Scene 4 & Epilogue.
