Duke Senior: "Hath not old custom made this life more sweet Than that of painted pomp? Are not these woods More free from peril than the envious court?" (II.i.17)
Native to the life of the city, Duke Senior is totally out of his element in the wild. First of all, Duke Senior and Jacques show pity for killing a deer in the forest as dinner. A true huntsman would not even care about the life of the deer. But yet, Duke Senior still praises the country life.
In the excerpt above, Shakespeare uses rhetorical questions to illustrate Duke Senior's current attitude about his situation. Since he was banished from his own kingdom, the Duke is attempting to make the best of his situation. He simply states that his life in the forest is free of worry and care. Also, his surroundings are more natural and not as showy and ornate. The Duke literally has no responsibilities or work. Instead, he can focus on one thing - survival. Rhetorical questions emphasize the thought process of the Duke to the audience allowing the audience to feel more connected with the characters.
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