Let us remember that in this important scene, Rosalind
confesses to Celia that she has fallen in love with Orlando, having seen him in Act I
scene 2. She feels immensely overwhelmed by this feeling of love and now appears to be
very depressed and melancholy. Celia's quote that you have highlighted is said in
response to Rosalind's love sick comment that "full of briers is this working-day
world!" Celia sees her role in this scene as trying to cheer her cousin up, thus the
response she gives to Rosalind tries to urge her to see these troubles not as "briers"
or thorns but just as burrs, little stickly seeds that can be played with and used for
diversions. Thus Celia tries to encourage Rosalind not to view her falling in love as
thorn bushes that are ready to scratch and wound her, but something to laugh at during
festivities. Walking in the untrodden paths of life will result in some of these burrs,
or amusements, attaching themselves to the petticoats of the
ladies.
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