True Love in Shakespeares Twelfth Night Essay - 1969 Words

True Love in Twelfth Night Unlike the other characters in Shakespeares Twelfth Night, Violas feelings of love are genuine. She is not mistaken about Orsinos true nature and loves him for who he really is, while the other characters in the play seem to be in love with an illusion. Violas love for Orsino does not alter during the play, nor is it transferred to another person. Viola, alone in a strange land, disguises herself as a man in order to gain access to Duke Orsinos palace. She plays the role of Orsinos servant, Cesario, to be near him for she knows that he is the man who can help her in Illyria. On first hearing Orsinos name, Viola says: Orsino! I have heard my father name him: He was a bachelor†¦show more content†¦And so adieu, good madam. Orsinos love, however, is a courtly love. He claims to be in love with Olivia but seems rather to be in love with the idea of love and the behavior of a lover. Orsino is a Petrachan lover who chooses an object that will not return his love. Because he is not ready for commitment, he courts Olivia in a formal way. By sending his messengers to her house instead of going himself, he does not have to speak to her directly. Early in the play, Viola realises that Orsinos love for Olivia is denied and that she would also reject all men for a period of seven years. Viola believes that Orsino might not be rejected if he visited Olivia himself and says to him: I think not so, my lord, but Orsino, not wanting to see Olivia himself and wanting to keep up the role of the disappointed lover, insists that Cesario woo her. Orsinos reaction to Cesarios true identity and the fact that Olivia has married another man is surprising. When he discovers the truth, it is evident that Orsinos love is for love itself and not for Olivia, as he is willing to replace her with Viola. He does not react with shock or even disappointment. He says instead, ... And since you have called me master for so long, here is my hand. You shall from this time be your masters mistress. This suddenShow MoreRelatedThe Impervious Perception of William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night1631 Words   |  7 PagesIn the kingdom of Illyria (fantasy world), Twelfth Night was supposedly originally written for the entertainment of Queen Elizabeth I. William Shakespeare’s comedy associates with the Feast of Epiphany (January 6th) and was means for entertainment in the seventeenth century. It contains some aspects that can be thought of as a successful comedy when compared to the standards of today’s society. The play incorporat es some of the very same devices that are used in modern comedies today, such as topsy-turvyRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Twelfth Night1221 Words   |  5 PagesShakespeare’s Twelfth Night is a widely known romantic comedy that was first published in 1623. Twelfth Night is one of Shakespeare’s finest works and it tends to have an affinity to modern romantic comedy films and stories. 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