Wednesday, October 16, 2013

In As You Like It, what names do Rosalind and Celia decide to give themselves when in disguise?

Rosalind, the daughter of the banishes Duke Senior, is
forcefully banished by her uncle Duke Frederick, who had unlawfully usurped her father's
kingdom. She dons the "doublet and hose", and disguises herself as a young boy, before
leaving for the fprest of Arden, which was to be her site for refuge. She names herself
Ganymede.


Ganymede, according to Greek legend, was a Trojan
man of wondrous beauty. Because of this, he was abducted by Zeus (who has disguised
himself as an eagle) and taken to Mount Ida (the abode of Gods), to be the cupbearer of
the Gods. Rosalind finds herself in a similar situation. She is forced to leave her
lawful residence, but hopes to be happier at her new residence. Just like Ganymede was
granted the boon of eternal youth and life, Rosaling also hoped to lead a more
contented, peaceful and meaningful life in her new refuge. Because of the similarities
in the predicament of Ganymede and herself, she christens herself as
Ganymede.


Celia, Rosalind's cousin and Duke Frederick's
daughter, decides to accompany her beloved sister. She names herself "Aliena"-- because
she is now an alien. It is only out of sheer love for her sister that she decide to
accompany her to exile. But she does not willingly belong to their pastoral refuge, the
forest of Arden, where she must wander about like an alien- her true identity knowm only
to Rosalind. Moreover, she is also like an alien to her father's court, now that she
decides to elope. She thus names herself as
"Aliena".


Hnece, the two sisters name themselves according
their own predicaments.

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