It is hard to ignore the fact that Rosalind is the true
focus of this excellent comedy and that Celia is a lesser character in comparison with
her cousin. She is characterised by her deep love for her cousin, Rosalind, and her
unmatched devotion. Note how she responds to the banishment of
Rosalind:
Shall we be sundered? Shall we part, sweet
girl?
No, let my father seek another
heir!
...For by this heaven, now at our sorrows
pale,
Say what thou canst, I'll go along with
thee.
As such, she is a
character who plays "second fiddle" to Rosalind.
It is
Rosalind of course that is the most fully realised character in this comedy, outshining
both Orlando and the observations of Touchstone and Jaques in her wit and wisdom. Part
of her success as a character lies in her desire to fully engage in life and the way
that she is happy to criticise both herself and others. She is able to play many
different roles and give voice to many different opinions, and it is this ventriloquism
that makes her such an enduring heroine of Shakespeare's work. Celia acts as a kind of
sidekick, who does have value in herself, but is overshadowed by a greatness with which
she cannot contend.
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