As You Like It is “a vital exploration of gender, the male and the female within us all” (Gay 76). And Arden is “a realm where you can dress up and change your gender, change your way of life” (ibid.). I agree with this statement. But before my analysis, I want to elaborate on the relationship between sex and gender identity. Sex is determined by nature, whereas gender is a cultural construct which is influenced by power, ideology, class and ethnicity. To put it differently, women are not confined to be compassionate and submissive and men to be active and dominant just due to their biological differences. However, people in the 16th century were restricted to their traditional gender roles. For example, women were ‘The Angel in the House’ and men exerted control over ‘the weaker vessel’, which refers to women because of Christian traditions and allegedly scientific reasons.
In As You Like It, we will find out the transcendence of restricted gender roles. To prove my thesis, I will first explore Rosalind’s female role playing and male role playing by virtue of the costume. Then Orlando’s acquisition of traditionally labeled feminine attributes is to be analyzed. In the last part of my essay, I will come to a conclusion about sexual politics in As You Like It.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Rosalind's Expansion of Sexual Identity
- Orlando's Femininity
- Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This essay examines the themes of gender and sexual identity in Shakespeare's As You Like It, focusing on the characters of Rosalind and Orlando. It aims to explore how Shakespeare uses these characters to challenge traditional gender roles and norms within the context of 16th-century England.
- The Construction of Gender Identity
- The Transcendence of Traditional Gender Roles
- The Role of Disguise and Costume in Shaping Identity
- The Influence of Patriarchal Norms on Gender Relationships
- The Complexity of Love and Desire within a Patriarchal Society
Chapter Summaries
The introduction defines the concepts of sex and gender identity, highlighting the distinction between biological sex and the socially constructed nature of gender. It also emphasizes the societal restrictions imposed on gender roles in the 16th century, contrasting these with the exploration of gender fluidity in As You Like It.
The second chapter analyzes Rosalind's journey of self-discovery through her disguise as a man. It explores her conscious decision to adopt masculine attributes and her ongoing struggle with her inner feminine self. The chapter examines how Rosalind, even in disguise, displays traits that were considered traditionally feminine, such as emotional vulnerability and a tendency towards introspection. It also explores how Rosalind uses her disguise to manipulate and challenge traditional power dynamics within the play.
The third chapter examines Orlando's acquisition of traditionally feminine attributes, focusing on his emotional vulnerability and his expression of romantic desire. The chapter explores the way in which Orlando challenges the societal expectations of masculinity through his interactions with Rosalind and others. It highlights how Shakespeare utilizes Orlando's character to demonstrate the fluidity and complexity of gender identity.
Keywords
The key concepts and themes explored in this work include gender identity, sexual identity, disguise, costume, patriarchal norms, gender roles, and love. It focuses on the fluidity of gender within the context of 16th-century English society and analyzes Shakespeare’s As You Like It as a vital exploration of these themes.
- Quote paper
- Nan Liu (Author), 2013, Sexual Politics in "As You Like It" from Shakespeare, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/282275
