The first passage takes place in the forest and is the first occasion when Orlando and Rosalind are alone together. At this point in the play, Rosalind has assumed the identity of Ganymede, yet Orlando is still deeply attracted to her, which is humorous to the audience. In her role as Ganymede, Rosalind shows her true love for Orlando using wit. There is also a flirtatious nature to the exchange between the two and Rosalind mocks the female sex by referring to them as being “Fantastical, apish, shallow, inconsistent, full of tears, full of smiles…” She tests Orlando’s feelings for her by claiming that women are all of these negative things, and that he will have to live with these things if he is to love her. She gives Orlando orders to “come everyday to my cote, and woo me” Orlando replies to this by saying “Now by the faith of my love, I will; tell me where it is.” It is clear that Orlando is still in love with Rosalind, even though he is faced with a number of barriers, such as Rosalind’s appearance as Ganymede, and her constant pessimistic comments regarding women.. This is representative of romantic love, as it seems that no matter what Rosalind says to dissuade him, he is still very much in love with her.
Shakespeare used language to show the different types of love and the love between Touchstone and Audrey is quite different to that of Rosalind and Orlando. Due to touchstones rather burlesque, pessimistic attitudes towards love mean that this relationship lacks the romance of Rosalind and Orlando’s. This relationship is the antithesis of theirs and the fact that this scene occurs immediately after the romantic, courtly exchange between Orlando and Rosalind accentuates the contrast between the relationships. The relationship seems quite unlikely due to Touchstones attitudes towards Celia. He says such things as “Truly, and to cast away honesty upon a foul slut were to put good meat into an unclean dish.” These remarks are particularly condescending towards Celia, and it is by no means romantic. It is clear that Touchtone is the dominant member of the relationship and wants them to be wed in order for their relationship to be lawful. Neither person has been wooed, or indeed has wooed the other, and the relationship is in part because of Jaques’ intervention. The type of love that they experience is a variation from the idealized forms of love present in the play. Orlando and Rosalind experience a hero/heroine type of romantic love, and Silvius and Phebe are pastoral lovers, existing in a fantasy world.
Shakespeare uses the language and drama to create different forms of love. The witting dialogue employed by Rosalind adds extra impetus to the relationship and even though she teases him a great deal, it is still clear to the audience that she is very much in love with Orlando. The relationship between Touchtone and Phebe is the antithesis of Orlando and Rosalind’s. There is little romance and therefore the audience is not aware whether Touchstone in particular is truly ambitious regarding the relationship. His consistent mockery of love and it’s method mean that the audiences questions his integrity.
