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Gender in "As You Like It"

Present day conceptions of gender would appear to be different to what they were in Shakespeare’s day. Clear cut divisions of male, female and neuter are apparent. One would need to look back to the time of Shakespeare to try and see the different view of gender identity. Using the play As You Like It and the characters portrayed within it one might be able to see how our concept of gender may well be challenged. Gender role in this play does appear to be confusing at first glance. Men playing women who fall in love with men and these ‘women’ acting within an act to be men. Men wooing women played by and then wooing the men portrayed by these acting women. By carefully going through the text of As You Like It (Greenblatt, ed., PP1591-1657) one can try to ‘dig in’ to the characters portrayed and discover any challenge to our views of gender identity. During this essay I will point out some of the texts and criticisms that I would suggest lead to the Shakespearean gender identity and this will show how it has altered over time.

I would suggest that Shakespeare explores homoerotic possibilities in several characters. A good example of this is the relationship shown between Rosalind and Celia. Rosalind is called a trait

Mario DiGangi gives one a final vision. He refers to the line (Greenblatt, ed., p1602, line 102-103) “as they did in the golden world.” He suggests that this line refers back to the renaissance myth of Orpheus who established an all male community. This community was established to avoid the dangers of female seduction and sexuality. This compares with Duke Senior’s lifestyle and the homosexual implications of this would appear to be almost undeniable.

In concluding this essay I would suggest that Shakespeare’s vision of gender identity is a challenge to ones own. The point I have already made about women being ‘lesser’ forms of men may have been acceptable in his day. In our ‘enlightened’ society this would not be acceptable.

“But now I know her. If she be a traitor,

Some topics in this essay:
, Rosalind Ganymede, Rosalind Celia, Duke Senior’s, Orlando Rosalind’s, Victor Cahn, Thompson Stanley, Mario DiGangi, Celia Greenblatt, Celia Rosalind, greenblatt ed, gender identity, rosalind celia, name ganymede, line greenblatt ed, line greenblatt, ed pp1591-1657, characters portrayed, views gender, male male, challenge ones, greenblatt ed p1610, greenblatt ed pp1591-1657,