A number of critics find the character of Viola to be lacking because she is so passive. Critics often contrast her to the character of Rosalind in As You Like It. Like Viola, Rosalind disguises herself as a young man when circumstances force her to do so. But Rosalind is an active heroine who uses her disguise to resolve her difficulties and the difficulties of others. Many critics view Rosalind as one of Shakespeare’s greatest characters. However, perhaps critics should not be so quick to pounce on the character of Viola. She is precisely what is needed for this type of play. This is a play of plot more than of character. Despite that, the character of Viola still shines. She is witty and clever although she is passive. She cleverly trounces Orsino in the debate regarding constancy and the differences between men and women; she is able to keep up with Feste in the exchange of witticisms; and she expresses her emotions and feelings toward the Duke in lines of exquisite poetry. In addition, she is the vehicle by which Shakespeare can express his ideas regarding the overwhelming force of fate. Shakespeare well knew that fate can defeat anyone, high or low. Sometimes action can produce changes (as the character of Rosalind reveals), but there are other occasions when no amount of action can alter the destiny of an individual.