As You Like It

Change Essay
Change is an act or process through which something becomes different. It has positive & negative consequences. As You Like It is a comedy play following the adventures of characters in the Forest of Arden. Father & Son a story of a son wanting to leave but the father not understanding. Change is present in William Shakespeare’s comedy play As You Like It and Cat Steven’s song Father & Son with themes of filial discord, relationships and disguise.
A positive aspect of change is displayed through the disguise of Rosalind and Celia in As You Like It. Rosalind disguised herself as a male named Ganymeade and Celia, a shepardess named Aliena in their escape to the Forest Of Arden. They use these disguises to escape the town and start a new life in the forest. Shakespeare uses Rosalind’s change to explore the issues associated with gender role constrictions and freedoms. For instance when Rosalind and Celia leave the town, because Rosalind is disguised as a man, nobody questions her and allows her to be free. This highlights the freedoms of being man and the burden of womanhood in the late 16th- early 17th century. Another example of gender restrictions is when Rosalind says “in my heart lie there what hidden woman's fear there will- We'll have a swashing and a martial outside”. She is saying she will hide her woman tendencies such as a woman’s fearful nature, and be seen as a strong warrior-like man. Rosalind then goes on to suggest that a man may look strong but they have feelings too by saying “As many other mannish cowards have that do outface it with their semblances”. Rosalind uses her disguise to her advantage by obtaining certain freedoms that women did not obtain. Shakespeare uses Rosalind to show a positive aspect of change in the play.
The relationships among the characters in As You Like It go through positive changes throughout the duration of the story. There were four main love story’s in As You Like It, Orlando and Rosalind,...