Olivia is not introduced directly, but by repeated references in the first scenes; the captain remarks of Olivia and Orsino. Maria and Sir Toby furnish us with information, she is more complex than viola, following a less single- minded course of action, and more changeable in temper and emotion. Olivia is a wealthy, high ranking countess, beautiful and in every apparently the most ideal match for the Duke within the borders of Illyria. Olivia has been orphaned by her brothers recent death has left her without relatives except for her uncle, Sir Toby, who also is a kind of nominal guardian.
She is considered to be beautiful by all, Orsino speaks of her appearance as “purging the air of pestilence”, Viola calls her “beauty truly blent whose red and white natures own sweet and cunning hand laid on and addresses Olivia as fair Cruelty and if you were the devil, you are fair”.
At the start of the play, she is mourning the death of her brother, but her manner of mourning seems all out of proportion to the cause. Olivia shows no attitude towards love in the early part of the play because she is mourning the death of her brother who was lost at sea. Olivia language is formal as she is a countess she must speak formally to address her servants.
After exaggerating her sorrow over her brother’s death and vowing solitude, she quickly goes over to the other extreme. From mere interest in the new messenger, she proceeds to consuming love in the course of a short interview. Olivia has set eyes on Cesario the trouble with Cesario is that she is disguised as viola she shows no lone towards Olivia. Olivia also holds up an equilateral triangle love triangle between herself, Orsino and Viola/Cesario, She was in love with Cesario who was in love with Orsino who was in love with Olivia. The love between the three is all in conflict with one or another character.
Olivia is very keen on seeing Cesarios face, and this progresses onto Olivia who gives up mourning of her brother all due to her new love Cesario, (unveiling) look you, sir such a one I was present isn’t not well done? We can see the stage direction on the ‘unveil’ which suggests that Olivia has over come her mourning only for Cesario. Unveiling is symbolic of Oliiva as she is re-entering his life because she has renewed energy which is all due to her new love for Cesario. Concluding this we can see that Olivia love for cesario seems to be superficial, as she loves his appearance as Cesario is in his youth. I believe that Olivia had gotten over the mourning of her brother very quickly as she had great comfort form from Cesario who was there for, her this is what made her pay interest in him.
