One of Shakespeare's early plays, As You Like It is a romantic comedy about the restoration and regeneration of society through the affirmation of certain positive human values such as brotherly love, tolerance for different viewpoints, and optimism about life at large. The plot centres on the resolution of the warped attitudes of two evil brothers toward good brothers, and related obstacles to marriage for several couples in the play. On one level the play is simple, diverting amusement. But on a somewhat deeper level, it provides opportunities for its main characters to discuss a host of subjects (love, ageing, the natural world, and death) from their particular points of view.

William Shakespeare, perhaps the greatest English playwright ever, was born in 1564. By 1592 he was sufficiently established as a playwright to be criticized in print. He was a leading member of the Lord Chamberlain's Company, which became the King's Men on the accession of James I in 1603. He died in April 1616 and is buried in Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon.