How does cross dressing help Rosalind achieve her goals in this play

that is how does cross dressing assist her and how does she use her
new position as a boy to procure what she wants, can we draw any
parallels to modernity’s notion of cross dressing in other words what
commentary is being made about appearance versus reality,
disguises, dressing the part etc.

What is Rosalind’s goals – Testing Orlando – testing him to see if he is

worthy or marriage to her.
Asks questions to Orlando about what he will do when he meets Rosalind.

“…the most general answer, one can begin by stating that cross dressing,
like other disruptions of the Renaissance semiotics of dress, opened a gap
between the supposed reality of one's social station and sexual kind and
the clothes that were to display that reality to the world. As is well known,
the state regulated dress in early modern England, especially in urban
settings, precisely to keep people in the social "places" to which they were
born. Elizabethan sumptuary proclamations list those who could wear
certain colors (such as purple), certain fabrics (such as silk), and certain
adornments (such as spurs, daggers, jewels).” [this is from the journal I
sent you}

Two women alone in the forest – so Rosalind dresses as a man for

protection when the two cousins leave the Court to live in the forest.

Rosalind
Were it not better ,
because that I am more than common tall,
that I did suit me all points like a man? (1.iii.112-14)

I will speak to him like a saucy lackey and

Under that habit play the knave with him (3.ii. 268-269)

Rosalind to Orlando Questions him about what he will do when he sees

Rosalind.

Come woo me woo me for now I am in a holiday humour

What would you say to me now
(4.i. 60-62)
Orlando
I would kiss before I spoke (4.i 63)

Rosalind is going against the norm, and societal expectations, she is giving
up female dress, she is leaving the home without being wed she leaves
home with another women. She acts like a man by taking up the sword
thus, Rosalind’s actions can be seen as a rebellion against the status quo,
and the cultural norms of her time. Today, while women are free to wear
pants and other articles of clothing that we associate as being menswear
out society still has many forms of gender and social and cultural
expectations around dress. For example, men dressed as women outside
of the gay community our outside of theatre etc. will be marginalized,
additionally, women who choose to wear only men’s clothes may also be
marginalized depending up on where they work. We still have a great deal
of social expectations about appearance, for example , in the work place.
Workplace culture brings with it expectations of dress such as bankers on
Bay street would be expected to dress in suits whereas young computer
tech men and women have much more freedom of choice about dress.
Uniforms in schools can serve a number of functions, the uniform can help
to eliminate the eliminate hierarchy amongst peers in modes of dress , but
it can also show status. For example, a child in a private school uniform is
a social marker of his or her parents ability to afford a private school.
Uniforms in the school setting can also act as a form of security, with
everyone looking alike, the sameness of dress can help to keep outsiders
out and add to the security of the school setting.

For example in France women wearing hijab are discriminated against “in
order to protect French culture” Protecting the status quo – protecting the
dominant culture from social change.
Failure to assimilate.

What was Shakespeare’s intention with a role-play such as the one in

As You Like It? Is it a good thing that we can take on different
roles? That we can use this ability to achieve something as wonderful
as love? Or is he proving that exploring different roles is the only
way to truly become the person you want to be? Through Rosalind’s
change from woman to man, Shakespeare reveals the true nature of love
when Orlando’s feelings goes from lust for a woman to admiration of a
man. Rosalind is given this magical power, enabling her to explore
different arenas of gender – and still be desired in both of them. By
exploring the masculine and feminine sides of a person, Shakespeare
reveals that love has nothing to do with gender. The deep friendship
between Rosalind and Celia is a fascinating revelation of love between
two women, so refined and dramatic to the point that it is difficult
to ignore the fact that they could easily become lovers. Shakespeare
is playing with gender identities and ruins the idea of sexual
difference.
 Cross Dressing in As You Like It

In Shakespeare’s As You Like It gender and identity are used to

explore social roles and gender expectations in 16th century England.
Rosalind, the daughter of Duke Senior, leaves the comforts of the Court to
live in the forest of Arden with her cousin Celia. Rosalind dresses as a boy
for a number of reasons, she does so initially as a form of protection for
two women alone in the forest, but more importantly she wants to test
Orlando’s love for her. Through Rosalind’s cross dressing from a woman to
man, Shakespeare reveals the true nature of love when Orlando’s feelings
goes from lust for a woman to admiration of a man. In addition, Rosalind’s
gender transgression through cross dressing is mirrored in today’s society
in a number of other social and cultural ways, from the banning of hijab to
the social and cultural mores in both workplaces and schools. It seems as
though as we progress through the years, the fine line that separates what
certain genders can wear is being blurred.

While we cannot clearly state that Shakespeare had the intention of

writing in favor of women’s rights such as Flaubert or Ibsen, he does
however, make a feminist point through Rosalind’s disguise as a man.
Becoming a man is the only way Rosalind can leave the court and the only
way she can be a free woman. But Rosalind does not only become free,
she also becomes the mentor of the Forest of Arden, someone who
teaches the rest of the outlaws love - including her love Orlando. By doing
this, Shakespeare proves that a role-play is a way to discover and win
insight, but most importantly expand our own sexual playground. It gives
us a space where we can acknowledge that a whole personality implicit
androgyny. In able to be heard, Rosalind becomes a female transvestite.
She explores the liberation in going from passive female to active male
and how taking initiative makes her in charge of her own life. It is unknown
if Shakespeare had intentions of strengthening women’s position in
society, but he contributed with exceptional honesty and understanding of
the female character. It is significant also that Shakespeare chose the
name Ganymedes for the male Rosalind. Ganymede was a Trojan prince
and the most handsome among mortals. He was abducted by Zeus and
became his lover. Shakespeare’s use of the name Ganymede can also be
seen as a way of promoting a homoerotic attraction between Orlando and
Rosalind.
What was Shakespeare’s intention with a role-play such as the one
in As You Like It? Is it a good thing that we can take on different
roles? That we can use this ability to achieve something as wonderful
as love? Or is he proving that exploring different roles is the only
way to truly become the person you want to be? Through Rosalind’s
change from woman to man, Shakespeare reveals the true nature of love
when Orlando’s feelings goes from lust for a woman to admiration of a
man. Rosalind is given this magical power, enabling her to explore
different arenas of gender – and still be desired in both of them. By
exploring the masculine and feminine sides of a person, Shakespeare
reveals that love has nothing to do with gender. The deep friendship
between Rosalind and Celia is a fascinating revelation of love between
two women, so refined and dramatic to the point that it is difficult
to ignore the fact that they could easily become lovers. Shakespeare
is playing with gender identities and ruins the idea of sexual
difference.
 Rosalind is going against the norm, and societal expectations, she is
giving up female dress, she is leaving the home without being wed she
leaves home with another women. She acts like a man by taking up the
sword thus, Rosalind’s actions can be seen as a rebellion against the
status quo, and the cultural norms of her time. The reason that she is
doing this is as a form of protection. Because she is the taller of the two
she must be the male as the stereotypical male is tall.
Rosalind
Were it not better ,
because that I am more than common tall,
that I did suit me all points like a man? (1.iii.112-14)

Today, while women are free to wear pants and other articles of
clothing that we associate as being menswear out society still has many
forms of gender and social and cultural expectations around dress. For
example, men dressed as women outside of the gay community our
outside of theatre etc. will be marginalized, additionally, women who
choose to wear only men’s clothes may also be marginalized depending
up on where they work. We still have a great deal of social expectations
about appearance, for example , in the work place. Workplace culture
brings with it expectations of dress such as bankers on Bay street would
be expected to dress in suits whereas young computer tech men and
women have much more freedom of choice about dress. Uniforms in
schools can serve a number of functions, the uniform can help to eliminate
the eliminate hierarchy amongst peers in modes of dress , but it can also
show status. For example, a child in a private school uniform is a social
marker of his or her parents ability to afford a private school. Uniforms in
the school setting can also act as a form of security, with everyone looking
alike, the sameness of dress can help to keep outsiders out and add to the
security of the school setting.
 Thus, while gender relations have changed and advanced since
Shakespeare’s time, expectations around dress, gender and clothing in
various societal venues is still subject to scrutiny. Through Rosalind’s
change from woman to man, Shakespeare reveals the true nature of love
when Orlando’s feelings goes from lust for a woman to admiration of a
man. Rosalind is given this magical power, enabling her to explore
different arenas of gender – and still be desired in both of them. By
exploring the masculine and feminine sides of a person, Shakespeare
reveals that love has nothing to do with gender. The deep friendship
between Rosalind and Celia is a fascinating revelation of love between
two women, so refined and dramatic to the point that it is difficult to ignore
the fact that they could easily become lovers.