Orlando is technically the hero of As You Like
It, but he lacks a pronounced demonstration of the qualities of a hero. He is
not resourceful; it is Adam who rescues him when he is in danger. He is not a leader; it
is Rosalind who directs the misguided loves in Arden Forrest. However, he is virtuous
and valiant: he insists before Duke Senior that Adam be given food and drink, and he
courageously faces Charles and defeats him.
In an interesting
cross-over of roles, Shakespeare casts Rosalind as the hero--even though she is
technically the heroine. After Celia comes to her aid and rescues her in an instance
that parallels Adam's rescue of Orlando, Rosalind, in the guise of Ganymede,
appropriates the role and characteristics of the hero as she boldly takes charge of
correcting the ills of the forest and leading people into right relationships with each
other.
ROSALIND: I have promised to make all this
matter even.
Keep you your word, O duke, to give your daughter;
You
yours, Orlando, to receive his daughter:
Keep your word, Phebe, that you'll
marry me,
Or else refusing me, to wed this
shepherd:
Some critics assert
that the paramount reason that Shakespeare characterized Rosalind as the hero was to
honor Queen Elizabeth I. Elizabeth was a mighty ruler in England, some say perhaps the
mightiest, and had had some great successes in bringing peace to England. Others say
Rosalind is cast as the hero to exemplify the Christian qualities--theoretically best
personified by a woman--of steadfastness, kindness, love, wisdom, brotherhood, and
marriage.
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