l. When Celia and Rosalind come across the shepherd who is pleading with Phebe to love him she begins to swoon over Rosalind. (Act III.3) There is really no reason for it, for Rosalind begins to scold her from the get go, that Phebe could at least be kind or pity this man, after all Phebe is that great herself, yet a man love her. Suddenly Phebe is in love. Boy that was quick! How is it we can believe this, merely because we are to dismiss Phebe, like Rosalind says, because these two country folk seem to know little about love? (Act III.3 ln 66-70) After all, if this play is about the idea of naturalism and a natural person falls for a put on disguise, completely unnatural person, how are we to even by in to whole concept the play is trying to set up? Not only that but as Rosalind tries to further dissuade Phebe, Phebe adores her more. Then after Silvius’ pleading Phebe describes all the ways which she now loves Rosalind. She talks about how well Rosalind speaks another unnatural since that type of education comes from the court, yet Phebe is okay with that. Then Phebe goes on to describe how aesthetically pleasing Rosalind is. In this very description she makes Rosalind sound like a woman. Yet Phebe doesn’t catch this? It doesn’t make her stop and think a moment, fair complexion vs., manly rugged shepherd man. I mean if I were a country girl I know whom I’d favor. It certainly wouldn’t be the effeminate male who just insulted me harshly that I’ve only met once. This character is not only surprising in her justifications and actions of love, but she also seems auxiliary. I think with only Silvius helping the two girls as they came into the forest and that was it would have been enough. The play would proceed on with not much content difference. Just a silly moment that is surprising because of its out-of-the-blueness, and its non-sensical justification. ...
