William
William is a brief comic foil to Touchstone, his guileless simplicity the straight line to the fool's wit.
Appears In
Who is William?
William is a young country fellow in love with Audrey, appearing only in Act V Scene 1 where Touchstone subjects him to comic interrogation. He answers with cheerful simplicity, unaware he is being made sport of.
Touchstone informs him he intends to marry Audrey and William must abandon his claim, delivering the dismissal in mock-legal terms. William exits with a simple farewell.
He represents the straightforward country life Arden claims to admire but cannot take seriously when it arrives without wit or affectation.
Motivation
William is motivated by a plain affection for Audrey and uncomplicated contentment with rural life.
Personality
William answers Touchstone's interrogation with honest simplicity and exits without grievance.