In Shakespeare’s As You Like It, William is the country youth who is in love with Audrey.
William appears among the rustic characters in the Forest of Arden, alongside Audrey, the shepherdess Corin, and the lovesick shepherd Silvius. His brief role comes into focus when he speaks with Touchstone, the court fool, who is also pursuing Audrey.
Touchstone intimidates William and orders him to abandon Audrey, threatening violence if he does not leave. William does not seriously challenge him, which makes the encounter a comic contrast to the play’s more idealized romances, especially Rosalind and Orlando’s relationship.
The common mix-up is Silvius, who is also a country lover, but he is devoted to Phebe, not Audrey. Audrey ultimately marries Touchstone, while William disappears from the action. The play, probably written around 1599, ends with several pairings, including Rosalind and Orlando, Celia and Oliver, and Phebe and Silvius.