Both Shakespeare's As You Like It and the story of the American Revolution are set in times of uncertainty in which drastic measures are needed to ensure safety and freedom from oppression. Both Shakespeare and the founding fathers knew what it was like to witness conflict rising around them. The American Revolution and the Catholic/Protestant conflict during Shakespeare’s time were periods of persecution, during which brothers were divided and banishment tore families apart. When you consider the fact that Shakespeare’s writing of this play and the American Revolution are only separated by around 175 years, it is not hard to imagine that the two worlds might share ideas regarding class conflict and ethics. The play and the historical events are connected by a concern with ideas of love and honor. In the play, Rosalind gives up everything for the love of Orlando; in the Revolutionary War men and women gave up everything for the hope of a better life. Duke Senior’s men give up everything in order to follow him into the wilderness because they would rather live a harsh life with a trustworthy leader than an easy life in the court with a terrible ruler. This parallels the men in the Revolutionary War who were willing to follow George Washington because of his strength and integrity, despite the risk and hardship of a soldier’s life. People in the world of the play have to make a decision whether to support Duke Senior or his usurping brother Duke Frederick, just as men and women during the revolution had to declare their loyalty, swearing on their honor to fight for their cause knowing that doing so put their lives at stake. As an audience member watching this play ask yourself where your loyalties lie. For what love would you be willing to swear on your honor? (Zach Warburton, Dramaturge)