Belonging is the fundamental nature of humans wanting to have confidence in social situations and has to do with a balance between rejection and acceptance. A true sense of belonging can only be found when you are outside of society. Williams Shakespeare's play, "As You Like It" (early 1600s), through the character of Rosalind, demonstrates rejection and acceptance as well as individuality similar to how Casper David Friedrich depicted this concept of belonging in his painting, "Woman before the revolt". Sun' (1818-20). Rejection is an essential component in the ebb and flow of belonging. After Rosalind's father is banished from court, she too is banished not long afterward by her uncle, Duke Frederick, "...if you find yourself so near...twenty miles, you will die for it" threatening to kill his granddaughter. is a strong and offensive statement that alludes to the fact that Rosalind does not belong in the court as he is the ruler of the court and is exiling her. Furthermore stating "thou art thy father's daughter" shows how Shakespeare is suggesting that Rosalind does not belong to the court because she is "her father's daughter" and he himself does not belong to the court. Furthermore, Rosalind and her cousin Celia secretly left the court on the night of Rosalind's exile. This shows that the couple does not belong to the court as they left when no one knew about their departure. If they belonged, they would have left during the day as if there was nothing to hide. There is evidence in "Woman Before the Rising Sun" of rejection and exile as a woman stands alone in front of a natural landscape with her back to the audience (society/court) and wears formal clothing with a crown suggesting who once lived in civilian...... middle of paper ......th rejection and acceptance to have confidence in social situations. Ultimately, one must first be rejected by society in order to accept oneself in order to acquire a sense of belonging and therefore have confidence in social situations. Casper David Friedrich demonstrated rejection, acceptance, and individuality in his painting “The Woman Before the Rising Sun” similarly to how Shakespeare demonstrated belonging in his play “As You Like It.” These two texts have clear links that demonstrate a similar concept of belonging which shows that rejection plus acceptance equals social trust, self-acceptance means belonging to oneself and having confidence in social situations and therefore equals human fulfillment because belonging is the fundamental nature of human desire. be confident in social situations. Works Cited As You Like It, William Shakespeare