Today, as we acknowledge the themes of nurturing and care that often come to the forefront on this day in the UK, we find a beautiful echo in Shakespeare’s As You Like It.
In the play, the Forest of Arden is just scenery; it is a character in itself – a comforting, healing presence for anyone seeking refuge.
You see characters escaping life’s difficulties, finding peace and a fresh start under its leafy canopy.
But is there something even more personal woven into this image of care and support? We reckon so, and it’s a lovely thread that ties Shakespeare himself to the heart of the play.
Soulton Wood, inspiration for Thomas Lodge’s Rosalynde and for Shakespeare’s AS YOU LIKE IT
Think about what the forest does for everyone. It gives them what they need: food, shelter, a place to figure things out. People ditch their old pretenses, fall in love, and finally feel like they belong. It’s all about new beginnings, a return to something real and honest. And doesn’t that echo the identity of motherhood?
Looking a bit closer in, Shakespeare’s own mother, Mary Arden, adds such a personal touch. Her family came from the actual Forest of Arden in the English Midlands, and you can imagine that connection giving the fictional forest a sense of warmth and homeliness to Shakespeare.
On a day like today, celebrating mothers, it’s lovely to think about how Shakespeare cannot but have considered that he was bringing his own mother’s roots into his work .
And there’s another layer!
Mary Arden was related to a Rowland Hill, who held Soulton. Now, Soulton has a firm link to the creation of As You Like It through Thomas Lodge Jr’s Rosalynde (1590). This text, with its deeply caring forest, was connected to Shakespeare’s mother’s wider family.
Today, as we cherish the places and memories we associate with our own mothers, this link adds a really touching dimension to the play.
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So, when we watch Rosalind, Orlando, and the gang finding comfort and changing for the better in the Forest of Arden, it’s not just a story. It could be a little nod to the power of motherhood, grounded in the landscape of Shakespeare’s own family. The Forest of Arden, in this light, becomes a beautiful symbol of a mother’s love – a love that whispers through the centuries, carried on the breeze through the leaves of an imaginary forest, but firmly planted in the very real connection to Mary Arden and maybe, just maybe, the fields around Soulton.
Thinking about mothers today, it’s lovely to see how that same spirit of care and nurturing might have found its way into one of Shakespeare’s most joyful plays. Happy Mother’s Day!
Blue plaque on the cottage in the AS YOU LIKE IT wood
