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Duke Frederick is the brother of Duke Senior, and the usurper of his throne. He is initially characterized as a cruel, vindictive, and tyrannical ruler who is obsessed with his own power. For example, he appears to banish Rosalind on a mere whim after promising that she could remain at court despite her father’s banishment. Even his daughter, Celia, cannot persuade him to change his mind even though she claims that she “cannot live” without her beloved companion (1.3.90), showcasing his cruelty and fickleness. However, Frederick undergoes a remarkable transformation over the course of the play. In 5.4, Jaques informs the principal cast that Duke Frederick initially raised an army to seek out Duke Senior and destroy him. However, he met a hermit as he rode through the Forest of Arden who converted him to a peace-loving life. Frederick formally abdicates his throne to his brother and moves to a monastery. Frederick’s transformation is shocking, especially given the fact that it happens entirely offstage. However, Shakespeare uses Frederick’s shift from a backstabbing authoritarian to a peace-loving monk to symbolize the transformative power of the pastoral. The Forest of Arden has provided a liminal sphere allowing Frederick to grow and develop outside of the expectations of society. Through Frederick, Shakespeare argues that people have the potential to change for the better if they are given a space to do so.
