Cross dressing and transgender views. Review on As You Like It - William Shakespeare

This is one of the finest example of Pastoral Comedy written by Shakespeare. in this drama issues like cross dressing and transgender have been raised. Rosalind one of the leading character flees in the forest of Arden only to safeguard herself. the kingdom of her father has been usurped by her uncle. in the forest of Arden she is accompanied by her sister Celia who is the daughter of her uncle. both Celia and Rosalind have a unique bond and they love to live together. Celia is week whereas Rosalind is strong by her heart. both of them are feeling scared in the forest but as they have to live there so Rosalind decides to pat away her fear and give strength to her sister Celia. for this purpose she assumes herself as a boy whose name is Ganymede. she disguises herself as Ganymede and hallucinates an imaginary masculinity of her own. by doing this and assuming herself as a boy she gains power inside her which is enough to safeguard herself as well as her sister in the forest of Arden. she dresses herself as a boy.

in the story we have a wonderful character Orlando who is a wrestler and who has been banished by his own brother Oliver. Orlando and the old man Adam who is his servant also find shelter in the forest of Arden. The love story between Orlando and Rosalind, the relationship between phoebe and Silvius, Touchstone and Audrey makes the drama more interesting. Phobe's love for Ganymede seems very amusing.

for literature lovers this book is very interesting. I have read this book several times. in act ii scene vii the famous quotation of melancholy Jaques that " All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players." are often remembered and quoted.