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Homoerotic Jealousy: Celia's Change Of Identity

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With Rosalind's change of identity came her development of love towards Orlando, but also awakened Celia's homoerotic jealousy towards Rosalind's likes and tastes. Prior to Rosalind's change of identity, Celia's loyalty towards Rosalind proved to be truer than to her father. So true was her loyalty to Rosalind that Celia was willing to make Rosalind Duke Frederick's heir when he died to make up for her father's banishment, and even said "By mine honor, I will, and when I break that oath, let me turn monster" (1.1.19-21). Even Charles confirmed Celia's loyalty to Rosalind when he told Orlando that her cousin would have followed Rosalind with her father's banishment. However, that loyalty started to wear off once she saw Rosalind slowly fall in love with Orlando after changing into Ganymede. As Ganymede and Orlando acted out their homoerotic relationship, Rosalind confesses to Celia how much she is in love with Orlando. Rather than advising her, Celia sows discord on Rosalind's mind. She tells Rosalind that …show more content…

As Rosalind expresses her feelings towards Orlando, Celia explains to her that "[her] words are too precious to be cast upon curs," and that Rosalind would be better off by "[throwing] some of them at [her]" (1.3.4-5). Despite Celia's efforts to receive Rosalind's love words in later Acts, Rosalind insists that her love will only pertain to Orlando, causing Celia to give up and bitterly add "and I'll go to sleep" (4.2.209). However, Celia's homoerotic love gradually undergoes a dramatic shift when she meets Oliver and falls in love with him. Towards the end of Act V, Rosalind and Celia remove their disguise and present themselves to Orlando, Oliver, and two shepherds (Phoebe and Silvius), whom all marry their perspective opposite-sex partner, putting an end to all homoerotic friendships and

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