As You Like It Character Journal: Rosalind Act 4

In act 4, Jaques approaches Rosalind in the Forest of Arden, disguised as Ganymede, hoping to become close acquaintances. Rosalind coldly scorns Jaques for being Melancholy and refuses to be friends with him, "Those that are in extrem-/ity of either are abominable fellows and betray/themselves to very modern censure worse than/drunkards." (4.1.6-9) She is disrespectful toward him even though he was just trying to get along with her. She mocks him and speaks for all the sadness that is going on at this point.

Orlando arrives late for the love lesson and Rosalind scolds him for doing so. She continues to test his love for her and acts as if she is angry with him. She tells him that a real lover would not come late and says she would rather receive wooing from a snail. "Ay, of a snail, for though he/comes slowly, he carries his house on his head-a/better jointure, I think, than you make a woman./Besides, he brings his destiny with him." (4.1.58-61) This shows that Rosalind's goal is to find out if Orlando actually loves her. Then quickly after that she scolds him, she completely changes her mood and wants Orlando to woo her once again. There is nothing more she wants but Orlando's love and she begins to realize that he does indeed love her. Orlando says that he would die for love but Rosalind disproves this by saying "Men have died from time to time, and worms have/eaten them, but not for love." (4.1.112-112) Rosalind then takes the situation over the edge by having a fake marriage between her and Orlando. Orlando eventually must depart for he has a dinner with Duke Senior but says he shall return within two hours. Rosalind becomes threatening and strict by saying that if he does not come within the exact time he says he will, he is not a true lover. "If you break one jot of/your promise or come one minute behind your/hour, I will think you the most pathetical break-/promise, and the most hollow lover, and the most/unworthy of her you call Rosalind that may be/chosen out of the gross band of the unfaithful." (4.1.201-206) Rosalind really wants her relationship with Orlando to be legit so she continuously acts harsh toward him to make sure he actually loves her. After Orlando leaves Celia accuses Rosalind of misusing the female sex for the affection of love. Rosalind blames this on her deep feelings for loving Orlando, "O coz coz coz, my pretty little coz, that thou/didst know how may fathom deep I am in love. But/it cannot be sounded; my affection hath an/ unknown bottom, like the Bay of Portugal." (4.1.218-221) She has to know she won't get hurt in the relationship and must do this. She is becoming obsessive to the point where all she cares about in the world is Orlando.

At the beginning of act 4, scene 3, Rosalind is getting anxious because Orlando has not shown to the house yet. Silvius walks in with a letter from Phoebe to Ganymede. After Rosalind reads it out loud, she sees that Phoebe is in love with her (Ganymede). She has no pity on Silvius because she cannot believe he would like a woman such as Phoebe. She does not appear to think much of this letter because she has Orlando on her mind. She writes back saying Ganymede will never love her unless she loves Silvius. After Silvius leaves, Oliver approaches with a bloody napkin from Ganymede. He tells a story about how Orlando ran into a patch of trouble and that is the explanation of why he was late. Rosalind, as Ganymede, begins to ask many questions showing that she is very worried and cares for Orlando. She then faints which creates suspicion of Oliver, for fainting is a womanly feature. He says she lacks a man's heart. Rosalind covers it up by saying, "I do so. I confess it. Ah./sirrah, a body would think this was well-counter-/feited. I pray you tell your brother how well I/counterfeited Heigh-ho." (4.3.175-178) She tries to say she faked the fainting but Oliver is still skeptical. Rosalind's deep love and affection for Orlando is beginning to become more obvious.