It is quickly knowledge that Duke Orsino is hopelessly in love with Lady Olivia because of his passionate comments throughout the play such as “Why so I do, the noblest that I have. O, when mine eyes did see Olivia first, Methought she purg’d the the air of pestilence; That instance was I turn’d into a hart, And my desires, like fell and cruel hounds, E’er since persue me’ We also learn that Lady Olivia is going to keep her face veiled and will not reveal it for seven years in mourning for her recently dead brother. Duke Orsino is not put off by this but is rather impressed that Olivia is a woman who "hath a heart of that fine frame. To pay this debt of love but to a brother”
Viola develops a love for Orsino who ironically thinks her a man named Cesario. There are many examples of her feelings for Orsino throughout the play. The first when she talks in soliloquy declaring her surprised but definite feelings for him: “Yet a barful strife! Whoe’er I woo, myself would be his wife.” This is extremely ironic and the idea that Viola is in love but Orsino thinks she is a man is very amusing for the audience.
Disguise and deception contribute to the comedy of the play because it causes complications such as mistaken identity. These complications build up until finally they meet each other to form a hilarious scene. A fine example of these scenes in when Sir Andrew in looking to fight Cesario but instead unknowingly challenges the real Sebastian in Act 4 Scene 1. Sebastian is impatient with Sir Andrew, Sir Toby and Feste and loses his temper. He draws out his sword ready to challenge Sir Toby who still thinks that he is Cesario. It surprised them to see such a change in attitude but they do not have any suspicion that it is not Cesario but Sebastian. The audience would be laughing at Sebastian’s confusion at this point.
Olivia enters the scene just as Sir Toby draws his sword. She immediately rushed to protect Sebastian whom she thinks is Cesario. When the three men have exited the scene, Olivia yet again declares her love for Cesario to Sebastian, who is now even more confused. She asks him if he will “be rul’d by me!” He accepts through all the confusion, seeing she was beautiful and somehow already loved him. Sebastian was not going to tell Olivia the truth that she did not know him because everything was working out well for him and that brings around the theme of deception.
Duke Orsino deceived himself by thinking that he was in love with Lady Olivia when in reality he was in love with the idea of being in love. He made himself believe that he had a chance with Lady Olivia and that when she found out how much he loved her then she would love him back. Duke Orsino’s love to Lady Olivia was unrequited much like Malvolio.
Malvolio was a stewardess of Olivia’s household. He was in Olivia’s words “sick of self-love”. Even though he was only a servant, he saw himself more respectable than Sir Toby, Sir Andrew, Fabian and Feste. This attitude did not bring him much popularity although Olivia did think him as a trustworthy servant. Using Malvolio’s arrogance and self-love, Sir Toby, Sir Andrew, Fabian and Maria found it easy to deceive him and to play a cruel prank on him.
Sir Toby is also deceiving Sir Andrew pretending to him that he will be able to get Lady Olivia to love him and marry him. He is using Sir Andrew for his money.
In Act 3 Scene 4 Sir Andrew and Cesario are tricked into a duel. Both think they are about to face a champion soldier and are scared witless. Sir Andrew who is undoubtedly weak and Viola/Cesario who does not know anything about sword fighting except that she cannot do it. She claims in a soliloquy “Pray God defend me! A little thing would make me tell them how much I lack of a man.” Sir Toby and Fabian stir up their nerves, exaggerating hugely on how angry their opponents are. When Sir Toby tells Sir Andrew that “the gentleman will for honour’s sake have one bout with you. He cannot by the duello avoid it, but he has promised me, as he is a gentleman and soldier, he will not hurt you. Come on, to’t.” Andrew is a coward as he replied “Pray God he keep his oath”. Knowing that Sir Andrew would only be fighting Viola and seeing him this terrified would be truly funny for the audience as they knew that Viola/Cesario could not sword fight. The funny part is that both Sir Andrew and Viola/Cesario are appalling at duelling and both think they are about to face an angry skilled soldier.
Olivia deceives the people around her by pretending to mourn for her brother, she tries act as if she does care for other people. Maybe this is her way of getting attention or seeking a man to feel sorry for her. Maybe even to fall in love with her. Olivia is very full of her own beauty and she is not modest.
Orsino deceives himself when he is convinced that he is in love with Olivia. He is in love with love.
Malvolio deceives himself when he thinks that he worthy of Olivia’s love. He lets himself be made a mockery of this. Malvolio was deceiving Lady Olivia for a while because all the while that he served her, he just wanted to be made important.
I enormously enjoyed Act 2 Scene 3 in which Sir Toby, Sir Andrew, Feste and Maria were singing and joking around. The scene lightens up the seriousness of the play and makes you laugh at how unlike nobles Sir Toby and Sir Andrew actually are.
This play made me think about how simple love can really be, whether it is love for your siblings or real love to someone. There could be many complications in your circumstances but as long as there is that love then everything can be made simple.
The last scene was a particular triumph because everything was closed up, all the complications straightened out and everybody was left happy-except from Malvolio.
I have seen the play live and I found it extremely humorous. It was very remarkable to watch and I tremendously enjoyed it.
There is a single quote to sum up this play and that is:
“Nothing that is so, is so”
