Celia (As You Like It)

Celia
Created by	William Shakespeare
In-universe information
Family	Duke 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.

Silent and Reserved

Celia is silent and reserved. She is more conventional than Rosalind and hence more worldly prudent. Her silence is in contrast to Rosalind's talkative nature. However, Celia, by her prudence exercise 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 what is exactly opposite to Rosalind.

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.

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 1978 BBC version of the play directed by Basil Coleman, and Romola Garai in the 2006 production directed by Kenneth Branagh.