Jump to content

Celia (As You Like It): Difference between revisions

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
copy edit, WP:OVERLINK
add refs, untag
Line 1: Line 1:
{{refimprove|date=October 2011}}

{{Infobox Shakespearean character
{{Infobox Shakespearean character
| name = Celia
| name = Celia
Line 34: Line 32:
Le Beau, the courtier, describes their love as 'dearer than the natural bond of sisters'. This shows that her love for cousin is pure and supreme.
Le Beau, the courtier, describes their love as 'dearer than the natural bond of sisters'. This shows that her love for cousin is pure and supreme.


==Character==
==Silent and reserved==


Celia is silent and reserved. She is more conventional than Rosalind and hence more worldly and prudent. Her silence is in contrast to Rosalind's talkative nature. However, Celia, by her prudence, exercises command over herself as well as over others. When the two cousins are alone, Celia is full of life and humour, but in the presence of others she is content to play the part of a spectator. She first listens and judges what to speak, exactly opposite to Rosalind.
Celia is silent and reserved. She is more conventional than Rosalind and hence more worldly and prudent. Her silence is in contrast to Rosalind's talkative nature. However, Celia, by her prudence, exercises command over herself as well as over others. When the two cousins are alone, Celia is full of life and humour, but in the presence of others she is content to play the part of a spectator. She first listens and judges what to speak, exactly opposite to Rosalind. Some consider that Celia's individual character has been ovelooked by literary critics in favour of the more central character of Rosalind.<ref>http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=UMjPwZa5TBsC&pg=PA91&dq=celia+as+you+like+it&hl=en&sa=X&ei=7x2KU66XG4KiO9GFgPAD&ved=0CD8Q6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=celia%20as%20you%20like%20it&f=false Clara Calvo, "In Defence of Celia: Discourse Analysis and Women's Discourse in 'As You Like It'", in ''Feminist Linguistics in Literary Criticism]] (ed. Katie Wales), 1994</ref>


==Marriage with Oliver==
==Marriage with Oliver==
Line 43: Line 41:


Celia's marriage with Oliver has been criticised by many critics. [[Stopford Brooke (chaplain)|Stopford Brooke]] opines that this marriage is against probability because it looks strange that Oliver should change in a moment from the scoundrel. But her marriage with Oliver does not bring disgrace to her character. Oliver was a bad character but has changed into a good one by a sudden stroke. So Celia's marriage with Oliver is not a blot on her character.
Celia's marriage with Oliver has been criticised by many critics. [[Stopford Brooke (chaplain)|Stopford Brooke]] opines that this marriage is against probability because it looks strange that Oliver should change in a moment from the scoundrel. But her marriage with Oliver does not bring disgrace to her character. Oliver was a bad character but has changed into a good one by a sudden stroke. So Celia's marriage with Oliver is not a blot on her character.

==Alternative interpretations==
It has been suggested that Celia's role in the play is "subversive", in the sense that she adds to the sexual complications of the plot by her friendship with the cross-dressing Rosalind.<ref>[http://blogs.uakron.edu/ovsc/issues/current-issue/the-dangers-of-playing-house-celias-subversive-role-in-as-you-like-it/ Selected Papers of the Ohio Valley Shakespeare Conference - Allison Grant, "The Dangers of Playing House: Celia’s Subversive Role in As You Like It"]. Accessed 31 May 2014</ref> Celia effectively sets up home with Rosalind in the forest, requiring no male presence, and her marriage to Oliver may be regarded as a means of prolonging their relationship rather than the result of any affection she feels for him.


==Performance==
==Performance==


Celia has been played by various notable actresses. [[Sophie Stewart]] played Celia in a 1936 film, [[Rosalind Knight]] in the 1963 UK television series, [[Angharad Rees]] in the [[BBC Television Shakespeare#As You Like It|1978 BBC version]] of the play directed by Basil Coleman, and [[Romola Garai]] in the [[As You Like It (2006 film)|2006 production]] directed by [[Kenneth Branagh]].
Celia has been played by various notable actresses on screen. [[Sophie Stewart]] played Celia in a 1936 film, [[Rosalind Knight]] in the 1963 UK television series, [[Angharad Rees]] in the [[BBC Television Shakespeare#As You Like It|1978 BBC version]] of the play directed by Basil Coleman, and [[Romola Garai]] in the [[As You Like It (2006 film)|2006 production]] directed by [[Kenneth Branagh]]. In a 1985 production by the [[Royal Shakespeare Company]], Celia was played by [[Fiona Shaw]].<ref>http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=UMjPwZa5TBsC&pg=PA91&dq=celia+as+you+like+it&hl=en&sa=X&ei=7x2KU66XG4KiO9GFgPAD&ved=0CD8Q6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=celia%20as%20you%20like%20it&f=false Clara Calvo, "In Defence of Celia: Discourse Analysis and Women's Discourse in 'As You Like It'", in ''Feminist Linguistics in Literary Criticism]] (ed. Katie Wales), 1994</ref> [[Sophie Thompson]] played Celia with the Renaissance Theatre Company, and in 1989 it was her first role with the RSC.<ref>[http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=giDZXAOT3WgC&pg=PA77&dq=celia+as+you+like+it&hl=en&sa=X&ei=FB-KU7mfEYGvO5qzgbgL&ved=0CDwQ6AEwAjgK#v=onepage&q=celia%20as%20you%20like%20it&f=false ''Players of Shakespeare 3: Further Essays in Shakespearean Performance'' (ed. Russell Jackson & Robert Smallwood). p 77]</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}


{{As You Like It}}
{{As You Like It}}

Revision as of 18:30, 31 May 2014

Celia
Created byWilliam Shakespeare
In-universe information
FamilyDuke Frederick (father)
Rosalind (cousin)

Celia is one of the important characters of Shakespeare's As You Like It.

Celia is the daughter of Duke Frederick. Celia and Rosalind are cousins but they have sisterly affection.

Physical appearance

Celia is beautiful, but with a beauty less sparkling than that of Rosalind. Orlando describes both of them as 'fair and excellent ladies'.

Celia is shorter than her cousin and less majestic in appearance. She has a gentle expression combined with a habitual serious appearance. Hence Rosalind addresses her at one time as 'my pretty little coz', and at another as, 'sad brow and true maid'.

Love for Rosalind

Celia's love for Rosalind knows no limits and is frequently referred to in the play. Charles, the wrestler, relates that Celia loves her cousin so much that she would have followed Rosalind into exile in case Rosalind too had been banished along with her father.

Le Beau, the courtier, describes their love as 'dearer than the natural bond of sisters'. This shows that her love for cousin is pure and supreme.

Character

Celia is silent and reserved. She is more conventional than Rosalind and hence more worldly and prudent. Her silence is in contrast to Rosalind's talkative nature. However, Celia, by her prudence, exercises command over herself as well as over others. When the two cousins are alone, Celia is full of life and humour, but in the presence of others she is content to play the part of a spectator. She first listens and judges what to speak, exactly opposite to Rosalind. Some consider that Celia's individual character has been ovelooked by literary critics in favour of the more central character of Rosalind.[1]

Marriage with Oliver

Celia's love for Oliver is sudden, intense and uncontrollable, despite the knowledge of Oliver's past wicked deeds. In this connection, it should be remembered that love in Shakespeare is an irrational passion.

Celia's marriage with Oliver has been criticised by many critics. Stopford Brooke opines that this marriage is against probability because it looks strange that Oliver should change in a moment from the scoundrel. But her marriage with Oliver does not bring disgrace to her character. Oliver was a bad character but has changed into a good one by a sudden stroke. So Celia's marriage with Oliver is not a blot on her character.

Alternative interpretations

It has been suggested that Celia's role in the play is "subversive", in the sense that she adds to the sexual complications of the plot by her friendship with the cross-dressing Rosalind.[2] Celia effectively sets up home with Rosalind in the forest, requiring no male presence, and her marriage to Oliver may be regarded as a means of prolonging their relationship rather than the result of any affection she feels for him.

Performance

Celia has been played by various notable actresses on screen. Sophie Stewart played Celia in a 1936 film, Rosalind Knight in the 1963 UK television series, Angharad Rees in the 1978 BBC version of the play directed by Basil Coleman, and Romola Garai in the 2006 production directed by Kenneth Branagh. In a 1985 production by the Royal Shakespeare Company, Celia was played by Fiona Shaw.[3] Sophie Thompson played Celia with the Renaissance Theatre Company, and in 1989 it was her first role with the RSC.[4]

References

  1. ^ http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=UMjPwZa5TBsC&pg=PA91&dq=celia+as+you+like+it&hl=en&sa=X&ei=7x2KU66XG4KiO9GFgPAD&ved=0CD8Q6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=celia%20as%20you%20like%20it&f=false Clara Calvo, "In Defence of Celia: Discourse Analysis and Women's Discourse in 'As You Like It'", in Feminist Linguistics in Literary Criticism]] (ed. Katie Wales), 1994
  2. ^ Selected Papers of the Ohio Valley Shakespeare Conference - Allison Grant, "The Dangers of Playing House: Celia’s Subversive Role in As You Like It". Accessed 31 May 2014
  3. ^ http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=UMjPwZa5TBsC&pg=PA91&dq=celia+as+you+like+it&hl=en&sa=X&ei=7x2KU66XG4KiO9GFgPAD&ved=0CD8Q6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=celia%20as%20you%20like%20it&f=false Clara Calvo, "In Defence of Celia: Discourse Analysis and Women's Discourse in 'As You Like It'", in Feminist Linguistics in Literary Criticism]] (ed. Katie Wales), 1994
  4. ^ Players of Shakespeare 3: Further Essays in Shakespearean Performance (ed. Russell Jackson & Robert Smallwood). p 77
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Celia_(As_You_Like_It)&oldid=610961464"