Reversal of Traditional Gender Roles in As You Like It

Abstract

The major thrust of this thesis is to examine how reverse gender role paves the way for the relaxation of strict codes, conducts and stereotypical role that are imposed on women in a patriarchal society. This issue is extensively probed in this research. Shakespeare's comedy, As You Like It, explores this issue at length. This issue is probed from the vantage point of Butlerian feminism. When Rosalind intervenes, disguised as Ganymede, Phoebe falls hopelessly in love with Ganymede. One day, Orlando fails to show up for his tutorial with Ganymede. Rosalind, reacting to her infatuation with Orlando, is distraught until Oliver appears. Oliver describes how Orlando stumbled upon him in the forest and saved him from being devoured by a hungry lioness. Oliver and Celia, still disguised as the shepherdess Aliena, fall instantly in love and agree to marry. As time passes, Phoebe becomes increasingly insistent in her pursuit of Ganymede, and Orlando grows tired of pretending that a boy is his dear Rosalind. Rosalind decides to end the charade. The major finding of this thesis is masculinity and feminity. Hence, are not the opposites but it is correlated. To find this conclusion here I used the gender theory as research methodology.