EPILOGUE

Summary

The epilogue of the play is spoken by Rosalind. She agrees that it is not in fashion for a lady to speak the epilogue but it is no more "unhandsome" than a lord speaking the prologue. She urges the women in the audience to show the love they have for men by applauding the play if they like it. She makes a similar exhortation to the men in the audience. If she were a woman, she would kiss as many men as pleased her. Saying so, she makes her curtsy and bids farewell.

Notes

The main purpose of the epilogue is to encourage applause from the audience. It also seems to throw some light on the title of the play itself. When Rosalind comes out and addresses the audience personally, she implies that the audience should applaud "as you like it." Since she feels that there is something in the play for everyone to like, she expects that the applause will be loud and strong.

It should be remembered that in Elizabethan times, Rosalind would really have been played by a young man, for women were not allowed to be actresses. As a result, the boy actor who spoke the epilogue was correct when he said that if he were a woman, he would kiss any man he pleased.

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