Discuss As You Like It as an example of pastoral literature and say what features of the pastoral mode lend themselves to social criticism.

As You Like It is an oft cited
example of the pastoral literary convention employed in drama. Pastoral literature is
defined as that which focuses on country life of shepherds and depicts it as ideal and
sincere while contrasting it to court life (or urban, city life) that is depicted as
artificial and corrupt. It is the contrast between the genuine and the corrupt that
lends itself to social criticism and gives the poet opportunity to voice objections to
the dangers, evils, and harm of courtly or city life in relation to rulers and affects
of the environment and development of personal
relationships.

As You Like It fits the definition
in that the first setting is the court of the deposed Duke Senior, which is now
controlled by the Duke's younger brother, Duke Frederick. The fact that the throne was
usurped by a younger brother and the rightful ruler exiled is sufficient to illustrate
the pastoral element of corruption of the court. In further acts of corruption, Rosaline
and Orlando--in the midst of death threats--are also exiled from or endangered by the
corrupt court of Duke Frederick.

The second setting is the pastoral
land of Arden Forest where Rosaline and Celia (her companion in exile) meet shepherds
and buy a cottage and sheep herd of their own. Shepherds and sheep are a definitive
feature of the convention of the pastoral. That the principals meet and become shepherds
is sufficient to illustrate the idyllic element in the pastoral. Further illustration of
the idyllic are found in Orlando's proliferation of the forest with unschooled love
poems. The resolution of the play further illustrates the idyllic when Rosaline/Ganymede
properly arranges all the couples who blissfully marry and look forward to happiness
under Duke Senior's reestablished rule.