Character of Rosalind

Rosalind, the daughter of Duke Senior, she still lives with her cousin Celia and Duke Frederick at the beginning of the play. After Duke Frederick banishes her, she disguises herself as a young man named Ganymede and flees to the forest of Ardenne. She is in love with Orlando and marries him at the end.

Rosalind's falling in love with Orlando coincides with her banishment from the court. This is her first step away from the protected life. Like so many of Shakespeare's characters that fall in love, she must risk everything if she wants to pursue her love. For Rosalind this is made easier by the fact that Duke Frederick banishes her. As a young woman she is left without any father or lover to rely on, a novel situation for the time. Rosalind therefore is able to leave security of court and venture into the wilderness, in the end winning Orlando as her future husband.