Rosalind Stereotypes

Shakespeare’s Stereotypes Gender is portrayed with the same stereotypes throughout all ages. A woman is supposed to be weak and innocent, while a man is supposed to be strong. In William Shakespeare’s play, As You Like It, the characters defy some stereotypes and agree with others. As You Like It is set in France, during which the old duke is replaced by his own brother. Rosalind, the main character, a spunky girl that speaks her opinion and is well liked by all. When in court, Rosalind stereotypes herself as weak and quiet, how people view women should be at court. Rosalind, when disguised as a man in the forest, follows the stereotypes of men closely. Orlando defies the stereotypes of men as harsh and cruel when he falls in love with Rosalind. When in court, women are portrayed as weak and quiet and Rosalind follows this stereotype almost to a fault. When her father, the old duke, is banished, she struggles with “[remembering] any extraordinary pleasure” (i:ii:4-5). Even though she is struggling with having her own father banished, she does not show her emotions and stays quiet.

He writes love poems about Rosalind and saves his servant Adam, when he is sick and frail. Orlando initially is introduced to Duke Senior as harsh because he believes that life in the forest is rude and uncomfortable. When he is treated nicely, he apologizes. He believes that “all things had been savage here” but when Duke Senior is polite and offers him food he understands that life in the forest is better than he thought (ii.vii.107). Orlando corrects himself when he appears harsh, unlike the stereotype of men. He thanks his servant Adam for his “constant service of the antique world” when Oliver treats Adam rudely (ii.iii.57). While most men are stereotyped as treating women badly, Orlando only speaks well of Rosalind. He believes that “she is wise” and that she is lovely