Isolation In Frozen

In the Disney movie Frozen, released in 2013, Queen Elsa must conceal her magical abilities in order to gain acceptance as the ruler of Arendelle. Her castle is almost a prison, as she cannot express herself for fear of scaring the townspeople. However, when Elsa releases some of her magic in public view, she flees to the mountains, where she experiences a great surge of energy. The mountains allow Elsa to truly discover herself, as she is a strong, intelligent woman whose power cannot be confined by the walls of the castle. Perhaps the most significant aspect of the journey is Elsa’s discovery of sisterly love, which conquers all obstacles. Similarly, Rosalind discovers love in the Forest of Arden. In William Shakespeare’s Elizabethan pastoral …show more content…
The backdrop of a stone wall represents her imprisonment. Rosalind is expected to live in the court and not leave, unless given permission. The dark tones that are seen throughout the bedroom represent the overall gloomy atmosphere in the castle. The curtains and drapery on the two bed frames represent the two royals’ isolation from the rest of the world. They are confined by their surroundings and feel trapped by the pressures of being a member of the royal family. The bright window in the middle of the room serves as a glimmer of hope for Rosalind. From the window she can see the forest, which, later in the text, represents the simple, carefree pastoral life. Thus, the juxtaposition of the dismal, confining castle and the bright, liberating outdoors highlights differing Rosalind’s attitudes at court and in the forest. Her sad, depressed demeanor in the court at the beginning of the play is displayed when she imparts, “Dear Celia, I show more mirth than I am / mistress of, and would you yet were merrier? / Unless you could teach me to forget a banished / father, you must not learn me how to remember / any extraordinary pleasure” (1.2.2-6). Her feelings of sadness illustrate her need for love in her time of grief. Fortunately, her cousin Celia acts as her confidante by giving Rosalind advice and staying by her side. Celia’s love allows Rosalind to stay …show more content…
Ganymede’s costume reflects both the freedom Rosalind experiences as well as the theme of love providing a natural means to personal fulfilment. The concept for Ganymede’s costume originated from Rosalind’s initial plan to impersonate a man. She keenly recognizes the way in which masculinity may be faked, stating, “We’ll have a swashing and martial outside-/ As many other mannish cowards have/ That do outface it with their semblances” (1.3.127-29). Therefore, Ganymede’s costume must create the illusion of masculinity while also rendering subtle hints of femininity to reveal the true character beneath. Starting at the top of the costume, Ganymede’s costume includes a hat to hide Rosalind’s hair. The hat removes the sexuality often associated with long, flowing hair, making Rosalind more masculine. As for the face, Rosalind does not attempt to draw on any facial hair, such as a beard or mustache, in order to maintain a youthful appearance. The priority of remaining youthful is connected to the origin of the name Ganymede. When she selects a name for herself, Rosalind explains, “I’ll have no worse a name than Jove’s own page,/ And therefore look you call me Ganymede” (1.3.131-32). In both Roman and Greek mythology, the name Ganymede suggests youth and homosexuality. The character must be universally attractive and young,