Rosalind from one of Shakespeare most famous play 'As You Like It' is one of those female characters which not only represent feminism but also Emphasizes how much men have more power over women during that period. For example the ego differences when she is herself and then disguised as Ganymede is at different ends of the spectrum. She is the very well known beautiful daughter of the Duke senior however further in the play her father is banished from their kingdom, this distraught her and believes that this is not right and completely unfair and cruel:'no, some of it is for my child's farther. O, how full of briars is this working day world!'
This shows that she has had enough of the working and labored world and society, she knows it's unfair and that people are treated unequally and unfairly. So tries and find a way to break away form this so called chain of society. As later on in act 1 scene 3 she decides to use a disguise as 'Ganymede'. Proving the point of that men have more power over others and those who are female, why else would she be disguised as a male rather than a different female? because she likes having that power herself. She wants to be at the top of the pile and be wanted, having the opportunity to control others and be her own independent person with no force is what she desires in her world. However this does make her come across as rather selfish and stuck up. Caring more for herself rather than others, her feelings and emotions soon change however when love is finally inlvoved in the equation with the new character and arrival of Orlando. Orlando is already in love with Rosalind from the beginning of the play. But as Rosalind has a tough shell and isn't fooled into love that easily, Orlando tries everything he can to express his emotions for her, example of when he starts placing poetry and tries to write a serenading song based all around his love for her. This shows that she likes having the attention, she knows that she is good looking and has a certain confidence which always over shadows others characters such as Celia. Celia always looks up to her for guidance and care, even though they both are cousins they are looked upon as sisters; Rosalind being the eldest. Showing her caring side.
As disguised as Ganymead she really does take this alter ego to her advantage, very sneakily and slyly, pry questions and answers from Orlando without him noticing it was her in disguise. As on page 114 scene 4 act 1 tells Orlando how to treat a women, knowing that he was thinking of her:
'Rosalind- Come, woo me, woo me :for now i am in a holiday humor, and like enough to consent. What would you say to me now, an i were your very, very Rosalind?
Orlando- I would kiss before i spoke
Rosalind- Nay, you were better speak first, and when you were gravelled for lack of matter, you might take occasion to kiss'
This whole scene is a part of Rosalind's plan to get the 'perfect love'. Showing and telling him how to treat a women. Showing that men didn't really understand love and how to show it to a female. Showing she is actually very cleaver headed but also has a tom-boy side to her as well. She can connect to both male and female attitudes.
Her relationships to other characters differ. Her relationship with Celia is very strong straight from the beginning of the play, they may act like sisters by how close they both are but however they are in fact cousins from the brothers Duke Senior and Duke Frederick, who have known each other and have gotten on so well from a very young age.
'oh my poor Rosalind. wither wilt thou go?
wilt thou change fathers? i will give thee mine.
I charge thee, be not thou more grieved than i am'
This speech said by Celia shows how much care she has towards Rosalind, They both hate the fact and punishment of banishment. While agreeing to leave both disguised as someone new to start over, a place that's not unfair and full of inequality. As for love relations, well it gets rather confusing especially for the main love target Orlando. He is in love with Rosalind however while she is disguised as Ganymede he starts to have mixed feelings for Ganymede due to Rosalind showing elements of herself through her disguise such as her confidence and strength. However with Rosalind taking her disguise to her advantage, she uses her intelligence to get what she wants, which is her ideal picture of a relationship and guides Orlando on how to treat a lady. Then throughout the play they keep a same, strong love connection and end up marrying one another. Proving even subconsciously Orlando truly did love Rosalind because even disguised as Ganymede he loved her, even though he didn't actually know it was her. However Rosalind with other characters can come across as rather negative at times, by being harsh on others; being cruel to be kind:
'no, faith, die by attorney. The poor world is almost six thousand years old, and in all this time there was not any ma died in his own person, videlicet, in a love cause' - page 114, act 4 scene 1
Teaching him not to fall over heels in love at first and go completely over the top, just be cool and calm.
Her family relations are very important to her, especially when it comes to her father, Duke Senior. who is banished which really effects her and makes her think of disappearing herself. Family means a lot to her and would do anything within her power to keep her father and family stable and fine.
The places she is at or arrives to varies in different parts of the play, due to her fathers banishment, she moves and keeps traveling. But at the beginning of the play in act 1 it is based in the new court to which the wrestling takes place between Orlando and Oliver. This is also the place in which Duke Senior is banished, where Cilia and Rosalind then leave to live in the countryside of the forest of Arden.
' Duke- 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?'
Showing that the banished Duke, Rosalind and Cilia and the followers are now in the forest of Arden in the beginning of act 2. However the duke didn't have a choice to leave but Rosalind did, showing her care and compassion for her father without even thinking of what consequences laid ahead.
Her main aim is to have freedom, she hates being in control and banishment is what pushes her over the edge and starts hatching the plan of breaking from the rituals and starts to have faith in her own beliefs, she is a natural leader.
'I'll have no worse a name than Jove's own page,
and therefore look you call me 'Ganymede'.'
Showing her no-fear-of-danger attitude. She is eager to start new, with a new place and new people, not to mention finding a new love. Which in her eyes wasn't even in the thought of her mind until Orlando starts to open up his feelings towards 'Ganymede'. She also has a bright thought for the future, after their marriage between Orlando and Rosalind and her cousin Phebe and Silvius, she wants to just keep a stable future. Due to many things going wrong in the past, finally having stability is what she wants to confirm in her future as shown in act 5 scene 4:
'I have promised to make all this matter even.
keep you your word, O, Duke to give your daughter;
you, yours, Orlando, to recieve his daughter;
keep your word'
She just wants the trust and hope with Orlando and her family. No more banishment, or false love or false identities but living a normal family life like it should anyways without the rules or rituals that have effected them in her past. However due to her strong individuality and leader ways, if her relationship does become fragile and weak and the rituals and rules comes back and brakes the family apart, I don't think she would collapse but carry on like she did the first time of the banishment with her father. She is a very down to earth and level headed character, she knows her wrongs from rights but does the wrongs for the good of reasons such as faking another identity to show the wrong doings in others such as Orlando's attitude towards females. This symbolizes Rosalind is a strong female character and is rather a large feminist. Proving that females can do male things as well by her disguise proving a point about femininity.
