What is the importance of Act 1 in As You Like It?

It seems that the main importance of Act I of this
tremendous comedy is to introduce the main characters and the central conflicts that
they face. In particular, notice how the concept of pairings is introduced, as we have
two courts, headed respectively by Duke Senior and Duke Ferdinand. In addition, we have
two other feuding brothers in the form of Orlando and Oliver and then the friendship of
the two daughters of Duke Senior and Duke Ferdinand in the characters of Celia and
Rosalind. As Act I develops, we see how the feud between Duke Senior and Duke Ferdinand
is mirrored by the animosity between Oliver and Orlando. As Orlando is forced to leave
the court and seek safety in the Forest of Arden, so Rosalind likewise has to flee the
court. Both of these characters are accompanied by a faithful servant or friend in the
form of Adam and Celia. Thus it is that Act I plays an important role in introducing the
characters and the conflicts of the play, and in addition the concept of
pairing.