Ms. Peifer
English 10 IB 5th Hour
April 7, 2011
Image Pattern: Court vs. Country, Act 4
The images of Court vs. Country in the fourth act of As You Like It are far more subtle than in the previous acts, and focus more on the typical actions of people in the Court vs. the Country.
“You have simply misused our sex in your love-prate” (Shakespeare 4.1, 214-215) As ladies from the Court, Rosalind and Celia's behaviors reflect those of women from the Court. Here, in Rosalind’s dialogue as Ganymede with Orlando, she depicts woman and their actions as fiendish and unfaithful. Celia's words of discontent towards Rosalind show how ladies of the Court value acting the opposite way of how Rosalind described; thus giving more definition to actions specific to people of the Court. Rosalind continues to Silvius in the next act display Ganymede's view of a country woman, “...I saw her hand. She has a leathern and, A freeston-colored hand. I verily did think that her old gloves were on, but twas her hands” (Shakespeare 4.3, 26-29). Rosalind as Ganymede's dialogue here is to further define how she sees Country woman in contrast to herself and Celia.
How is a young man like mineself to know all of the necessities and things required of a gentleman had I never received one's education? Alas I tell thee my diary, I, Orlando indeed, have nearly lost my chance with Rosalind. Most strange it would normally seem for me to have so much to care about for a simple man, yet there is something about him. I, at this point in time, remain in the Forest of Arden, whereat luck and God's blessing has been bestowed upon me. Even though I was late as a man and a failed lover in the eyes of Ganymede, I was still able to woo him as my Rosalind; a woo which he returned to me.
It was at this pint in time that my luck ran out. I ran across my brother, Oliver, eldest son of Sir Rowland deBoys. He was being attacked by a snake and lioness, and as I saved him, mineself was injured in the flesh. After such an event I do not expect my Ganymede to be my Rosalind, and yet, I know he is. I feel as I have also changed through saving my brother; my anger towards him is no longer present, and he embraces me as his brother.
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