destiny. Fate is always a strong and dominant force in Shakespeare’s plays, but that does not necessarily imply that man – or woman – does not have a degree of choice or free will in determining his future.
Rosalind, however, is also quite human; and, as such, she is vulnerable to all of the frailties and emotions that can affect anyone. One of the dominant conflicts appearing in all of Shakespeare’s play is that of Reason vs. Emotion. The Church and religious leaders taught that Reason is a gift from God, and that gift allows mankind to control his passions and desires. Reason thus prevents men and women from giving in to temptation.
Shakespeare – as well as other gifted writers from his age – realized that the authorities of the Church were mistaken. Every individual – no matter how strong or how intelligent or how noble – will on occasion submit to extremely powerful emotions. At such moments that individual becomes unreasonable or irrational: he or she cannot think clearly or logically. At such moments the individual becomes temporarily mad.
And one of these most powerful emotions is love. Rosalind also falls in love. And, despite all of her logical and clever and rational arguments against love and marriage, Rosalind cannot control her passion. Even she must bow down before the God of Love.