As You Like It / Act I Scene III / Solved Short Notes Type Question

1.  Give the reasons which made Duke Frederick to banish Rosalind.

            The malicious and vindictive Duke feels that Rosalind’s personality would

eclipse Celia’s virtues and this is the primary reason of his banishing Rosalind

from his court. There is perhaps another fact which further fires his vindictive

nature. He suspects Rosalind’s attraction for Orlando, the son of his enemy. The

man who had earlier kept Rosalind at the court to give company to his daughter

and used to call her ‘daughter and cousin’ now feels otherwise. Duke Frederick is

strongly motivated to hate Rosalind for the same reason which made Oliver to

hate Orlando. This strong motivation comes to the fore when we hear him speak

to Celia in the following manner.

            “Thou art a fool; she robs thee of thy name,

            And thou wilt show more bright and seem more virtuous

            When she if gone.”

2. How does the scene show that Celia and Rosalind are very responsible young

ladies?

                       The firm yet polite way in which Rosalind tries to protect his father’s

honour, clearly demonstrates her sense of propriety and responsibility. She shows

her affection for her father when she says that her father is not a traitor and treachery

is not something that is inherited by children from their fathers. Her calm assertion

that her uncle should not use her poverty and helplessness for branding her as a

betrayer wins our admiration. On the other hand Celia’s unflinching (unwavering)

loyalty to Rosalind shows that she too is a responsible girl. She appeals to her father

for repealing the punishment so unethically thrust upon her and even threatens him

that she would accompany Rosalind if she is banished. Again the way the two sisters

devise a way to escape from the clutches of the cruel Duke, and the common sense

with which they execute their plan, could not have happened without being

their being conscientious and responsible.

© SOMNATH MITRA

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