As You Like It Rosalind Misogynist Quotes

As You Like It, by William Shakespeare, is a play that follows Rosalind and her conquest for love. Rosalind falls in love with Orland, flees with Celia, and disguises herself as Ganymede. While Rosalind is a good friend and leader she constantly makes derogatory comments about women, showing her prejudice and predetermined beliefs about them. Looking at Rosalind’s quotes, her attitudes toward women, and her actions, we can clearly see her preconceived notions about women. Shakespeare's portrayal of Rosalind reflects the societal prejudice towards women during the time and Rosalind is a perfect example of a misogynist. Rosalind's behavior, actions, and speech reveal her internalized misogyny. While Rosalind may seem like a leader and a feminist

In act 3 scene 5 Rosalind, disguised as Ganymede tries to help Silvius win over Pheobe. Silvius confesses his love to Pheobe while raining her with compliments and praise however Pheobe is entirely disgusted and disinterested in him saying “Come not thou near me,” asking him to leave her alone. Also saying “when that time comes, Afflict me with thy mocks,” saying that if she ever did let him come near her, people should mock her for being with him showing her disgust with Silvius(3.5 35-38). Rosalind as Ganymede comes forward and says “Why I pray you?/ Who might be your mother,/ That you insult, exult, and all at once,” implying that should be grateful that Silvius took interest in her; so much so that she is insulting her mother who raised her to marry a good man by not being with Silvius (3.5 39-42). This is a prime example of Rosalind’s misogynism and shows her lack of respect and beliefs toward women. The idea that Phoebe should be grateful that Silvius is pursuing her is entirely false. Phoebe is a woman who can choose who she wants to be with; she shouldn’t feel grateful that this random shepherd falls in love with her because she has “no beauty”. Additionally, the idea that her rejecting Silvius is an insult to her mother is entirely incorrect. Rejecting Silvius is her choice and has no impact on her mother whatsoever. This passage highlights Rosalind's internalized thinking that women

In that same scene when Rosalind told Pheobe “What though you have no beauty—” and that she should be grateful that Silvius wanted her reinforces the idea that a woman's worth is determined by her beauty. After saying this Rosalind lectures Pheobe and tells her “Why do you look on me? I see no more in you than in the ordinary,” saying she shouldn’t look at her because she is nothing but ordinary. She tells Pheobe that she is not beautiful even though Pheobe thinks that she is. Rosalind advises Phoebe to “Sell when you can; you are not for all markets,” telling Pheobe that she should sell her body now because she is not attractive enough to be desired by everyone, and she should be grateful that anyone wants to ‘buy her’. This quote again reinforces Rosalind’s belief that a woman's value is determined by her looks and shows how Rosalind thinks women should approach love. She refers to Pheobe being with Silvius as Pheobe selling herself to him. This reveals her misogynistic mindset and how she believes that women are objects who are sold to men and that women should be grateful to the men that buy