A Peak into My Academic Life as an English Major;)

As requested by Mum, Dad, JA, EF and James....here's some of my school work...

this is a post for my Senior-Level 4000 level Shakespere class:)

its an online post for my online discussing we have to post EVERY single week:P....

so...here it goes......spare the criticism..please:P...unless it's constructive!

   Jia Hsien Pan 20 Jan 09    8:50 PM MST

As we discussed in class, Orlando did fall in love with Rosalind at first sight and is deeply in love with her throughout the entire play. Rosalind appears to manipulate Orlando by dressing up as a boy and toying with his emotions, as if, "testing" him. I am reminded by the film The Other Boleyn Girl which is also set in Elizabethian times, in which one of the Boleyn girls constantly pulls away despite King Henry's advances in order to manipulate King Henry and make him obsessed with her. Rosalind, obviously, is at least a little into Orlando because she gave him a necklace. I believe eros love is represented in this play. Perhaps Orlando demonstrates and even professes agape love but Rosalind's feelings towards Orlando is questionable because she does indeed seem to be leading him on and pulling away even when Orlando seems so sincere at professing his love for her. Perhaps she pulls away more and more as he tries to get closer and more intimate with her just to increase his ardor for her. Her disguise enables her to pretend to be the "nasty wife" or even her "real self" without risking angering or putting Orlando off. This is because she can pretend to be something or someone she isn't or doesn't want to show to Orlando directly. In other words, Rosalind gets to show her true colors without "actually" revealing herself (I believe that Orlando actually sees through Rosalind's disguise, at least towards the end of the play). Her disguise does present a problem though. For example, if Orlando is actually attracted to Rosalind in disguise, does Rosalind really want to fall in love and marry a man who actually is attracted to a man (Rosalind in disguise)? Realistically speaking, wouldn't a relationship be questionable when one partner dresses up as the opposite sex and the other partner demonstrates affection/sexual attraction to the partner-in-disguise? Disguise symbolizes distrust and without trust, a relationship, romantic or otherwise, will fail to work. Is this very issue of trust what Shakespere is trying to raise and address in this deep, thoughtful, and thought-provoking play? Date Modified: 20 Jan 09    9:00 PM MST Respond   Edit