In the play As You Like It, Shakespeare uses a theme of identity and disguise to dispute established relationships within the plot. In this story Rosalind is characterized with an identity masque to teach Orlando, her lover, techniques to court her to a degree of satisfaction. Within the play Shakespeare uses symbols and themes to portray Rosalind, who is disguised as a man named Ganymede, in a complexity of character and how it creates an overall effect and message to the audience.
             Rosalind is the daughter of the Banished Duke Senior. When she is also exiled from the court by her uncle she runs to the Forest of Arden. She decides to dress up as a man in order to stay away from troubled situations women can face in the forest, such as being harassed or raped. She later decides to keep in disguise for purposes other than protection, such as teaching Orlando how to woo her better. Rosalind noticed that masculinity can be faked easily. If a cowardly man can pretend he is tough by carrying around an axe or spear, then so can she.
             A boar-spear in my hand; and--in my heart
             Lie there what hidden woman's fear there will--
             We'll have a swashing and a martial outside,
             That do outface it with their semblances. (1.3.18)
             It is uncommon that a woman is impersonating a man in one of Shakespeare's plays. There are moments when the audience sees her as a woman and there is a shift in character when she is impersonating Ganymede. The axe, spear and mannish attitude are symbols of a male character. It is comical when Rosalind tries to swagger mannishly but the audience/reader notices how off and awkward the attempts are.
             Throughout the play, Shakespeare was able to un-focus the audiences'/readers' mind of the gender disguise and focus more on her accomplishments of teaching Orlando relationship tactics. When Jacques states "All the world's a stage/And
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