Discuss the different kinds of love presented in the play.
Love is abundant in Twelfth Night, with the main plot revolving around it. Be it, self-love, reckless love, sacrificing love, or any others, it plays an important part in Twelfth Night.
The first kind of love we see in Twelfth Night would probably be Orsinos obsession with love. Throughout the play, Orsino appears besotted and dazzled by love. This is palpable in the opening scene, where Orsino appears to be so preoccupied with unrequited love for Olivia that he feels unable to do anything but to listen to music, citing, If music be the food of love, play on, give me excess of it, that surfeiting, the appetite might so sicken and die. He hopes to kill his feelings for Olivia by letting them gorge themselves to death on musicwhich has been described as the "food of love." As Orsino continues to wax rhetorical and hysterical about being in love, it rapidly becomes apparent that he is playing a game with himself, which he will continue throughout the play. He is not in love, but in love with love. Already from here, we can already decipher that his feelings for Olivia are sterile and lack self-awareness. Terms like give me and surfeiting exposes the self indulging nature of his love.
Olivia's prolonged period of mourning is as artificial as Orsino's courtly love. Olivia pines away for her dead brother, showing no interest in relating to the outside world, preferring to lock herself up with her sorrows and mope around her home. She shows how mercurial she is, delegating herself to the impossible task of being veiled for seven years and living like a cloistress. However, she was mesmerized by the poetics of Cesario and after seeing him for the first time, the love struck Olivia says at the end of Act I, "Mine eye [is] too great a flatterer for my mind" Enthralled by Cesario, she breaks her vow to him and unveils her face to him. Like Orsino, Olivia appears to be led by her heart. In her pursuit for Cesario, passionate love has entwined her so quickly that she confesses her love for Cesario in such a passionate outburst by the roses of spring, by maidenhood, truth and everything, I love thee so that maugre thy pride, nor wit nor reason can my passion hide. Olivias affection of love reaches the climax where she rushes Sebastian to marry her, mistaking him for Viola. This shows that although she considers herself deeply in love with Cesario, her love is actually very shallow as she can easily be duped by external appearance.
Another character deeply inter-twined with the theme of love is Malvolio. Through Malvolio, Shakespeare reveals the dark side of love and how it can lead to ones downfall. His self-conceit is clearly shown in his own imagination, with a belief that with his fine complexion, woman in the world will fall all over his feet. Malvolio also dreams about him being in [his] branched velvet gown, having come from a day-bed where [he] have left Olivia sleeping and his ambitions to be Count Malvolio. He is oblivious to the fact that Olivia will never love him and that he can never be Count Malvolio. So blinded by self-love, he follows every instruction in the letter and put on yellow stockings to show them to Olivia. His vainglory which guides him to do such a foolish thing pulls him down from cloud nine back to earth.
Sir Andrew is as guilty of narcissm as Malvolio though he is not so much of a big issue. He believes that he is a great warrior thinking that his hope is better and that he can take on any person. He also believes that he is the best suitable match for Olivia available on the whole earth, though he clearly is not.
In stark contrast to the selfishness of these characterss love, Antonios love, friendship and care for Sebastian is generous and selfless. Antonio acted as an extremely wonderful friend throughout the play, helping Sebastian out whenever hes in need. The first instance of friendship is when he accompanies Sebastian to Illyria as he worries for Sebastians safety in a foreign land even though he is a wanted man there. He also helps Sebastian see [his] lodgings and bespeak [their] diets. In addition, he lets Sebastian be his purse-bearer so that Sebastian can buy some toy that his eye shall light upon. Antonio even comes to Cesarios help, mistaking him for Sebastian, when he saw him fighting with Sir Toby and Sir Andrew.
Another example of true love would be the family love between Sebastian and Viola. After being told that she has lost her brother, Viola never set aside hope that her brother would never return. Sebastian, like Viola, strongly believed that his sister is still alive and they would reunite again. Their strong belief of each others existence was strong proof of their unbreakable love.
Lastly, Violas love is perhaps the most selfless, generous and endearing of all. Her devotion and loyalty to Orsino can be in her actions and speech. For example, when Orsino sent her to Olivia to deliver his love message, she did not distort the real meaning of it, even saying, Ill do my best to woo your lady. (I.iv.42-43) Although she was devastated as she sighed to herself, Yet a bartful stride! Whoeer I woo, myself would be his wife (I.iv.43-44), she did not adjust the situation to her advantage, even bothering to memories a speech. This exhibits her virtuous and self-sacrificing love. Viola also exhibits her generous behaviour. In Act 2 Scene 2, when she realizes that Olivia is in love with her, she exclaims I am the man! If it be so as tis poor lady, she were better love a dream. (II.ii.24-26) even when realizing that Olivia is in love with her, Viola remains empathetic rather than consideration for her own position. Her love would also be the purest as she is the only one who has really managed to truly understand the person she love, Orsino, by working for him, and also has begun to know him personally unlike other characters who seem to love by appearance.
Love plays a major role in Twelfth Night, and Shakespeare addresses true love, self love and friendship in a very compelling and interesting way. Love is great to read about because everyone deserves a little love. Twelfth Night is the true definition of love, and Shakespeare does a great job of explaining a somewhat difficult topic.
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