As You Like It Character Journal: Rosalind Act 1

Rosalind is the daughter of Duke senior who has been banished from the royal court, yet she still lives there. Right at the beginning of act 2 Rosalind's behavior shows that she is melancholy about her father. She wants to be happy, so she asks her cousin Celia to cheer her up. "Dear Celia, I show more mirth than I am/mistress of, and would yet I were merrier?/Unless you could each me to forget a banished/father, you must not learn me how to remember/ any extraordinary pleasure." This shows that they have a very strong bond and are very close, for only good friends would ask others to do such a personal favor.(1.2.2-6).

Right after Orlando wrestles Charles and beats him he talks to Rosalind after the match and they appear to have feelings for each other. Rosalind talks to Celia about her overwhelming love for Orlando and explains that she has immediately fallen in love with him. "Let me love him for that, and do you love/him because I do." (1.3.36-37). She wants Orlando more than anything right now and is overwhelmed with deep love. Right after this happens Duke Frederick comes charging through the room full of anger in his eyes. He banishes Rosalind from the kingdom. She appears to be calm about the situation but is confused on why the Duke is denouncing her from the royal court so unexpectedly. Just as she was feeling joyous again she now felt terrible and melancholy for she did not want to leave the court. She cannot believe what Duke Frederick has done and now despises him.

Celia said that she would go with Rosalind which showed how close the two of them were and how their bond of friendship could never be broken. Celia suggests that they go to the forest of Arden to find Duke Senior. At first Rosalind shows skepticism because there is quite a bit of danger that lurks in the forest. "Alas, what danger will it be to us,/Maids as we are, to travel forth so far?/Beauty provoketh thieves sooner than gold. (1.3.114-116) Rosalind quickly switches her decision after thinking about how good it would be to see her beloved father and decides to disguise herself as a man. She is still very worried about what the two of them are about to do but still she shows great ambition, bravery and perseverance for she is willing to go through such lengths to find her father in the dangerous Forest of Arden.