Character Analysis : Orsino in Twelfth Night Essay

The opening lines of Twelfth Night introduce us to a moping Orsino, the Duke of Illyria, who has been consumed with love. The first line itself saying If music be the food of love play on. Orsino makes use of a metaphor to try and help him gain some sort of control over his love, wanting to feed it and in doing so probably satisfy the intense craving for love. Music being a universal language emphasises on Orsinos view of love as being an extremely common emotion, something thats always present as a hunger one must satisfy with some sort of food. He asks the musicians to play on so that his appetite might sicken and die, as is the norm when one is satiated with the excess of something. Shakespeare, in this opening speech makes use of a number of food metaphors. Orsino asks the musicians to strike up a particular part of the music again, a sad part that had a dying fall, very similar to the conflicts he seems to be going through in his pain ful, lovesick pursuit of someone who did not return his affections. Orsinos character is one of extreme emotions, someone who exaggerated things and moaned about his bad luck, behaviour that we do not expect to see coming from a Duke. Instead of representing a figure of authority and responsibility, Orsino sits and listens to his musicians playing to him, wailing about the changeable nature of love. The use of a simile now appears with like the sweet sound that breathes upon a bank of violets talking of the music breathing upon a bank of violets and then also stealing and giving odour. Orsinos plan is not entirely successful, even though he grows tired of the music, he cannot escape thinking and mourning about his love. The music is not so sweet as it once sounded to Orsino. The line is significant as it gives us the first glimpse into Orsinos whimsical nature, enraptured and completely immersed in something one moment and then tired of it the very next, his attention diverted.

The next line makes use of apostrophe, with Orsino addressing love, saying O spirit of love, calling it vigorous and fresh. There is the use of another metaphor as Orsino compares love to the sea. It has the capacity to take in everything and yet stay fresh in Orsinos mind. It makes use of the analogy of love being as vast and capricious as the sea. Everything else that enters his mind loses its worth, just as everything becomes small and insignificant once it enters the sea.

Orsino then concludes his speech with a comment about the love and imagination with the line So full of shapes is fancy/That it alone is highly fantastical. The word fancy is used instead of love. The line also refers to imagination, making the use of the word an interesting point to note. Love is highly fantastical. Although this could mean that it is imaginary, the term is probably used derogatorily as love being capricious of nature. Orsinos attitude towards love gives us a further insight into his character.