Olivia is a countess who instantly falls in love with Cesario in Act 1 Scene 5 just at first sight. However, Cesario (Viola) is in love with Orsino because of his hierarchy in society. Olivia falls in love with Cesario because of his youthful looks and feminine features. Towards the end of Twelfth Night Olivia fancies Sebastian because of his masculine features and his similar looks to Cesario. Yet, Olivia also finds out that Cesario is actually a woman (Viola) in disguise so she officially loves Sebastian in the end. This points out that Olivia’s love is unreal because she and Cesario did not know each other. Nevertheless, Olivia’s passion of love is strong for Sebastian.
Viola is disguised as Cesario, a servant of Orsino, and is the twin brother of Sebastian. When she is sent by Orsino to woe his love to Olivia, she begins to fall in love with Orsino because of his charming and handsome looks as well as his position in society. As Viola expresses her feelings of love for Orsino to Olivia in Act 1 Scene 5, “With adorations, fertile tears, With groans that thunder love, with sighs of fire,” illustrates this.
Antonio, a sea captain saves Sebastian from a shipwreck and starts to love Sebastian. Sebastian denies his love for Antonio but does not hate him. Antonio is very sad when he hears this but Sebastian still treats him as a friend. Yet, Antonio is willing to sacrifice himself for Sebastian by following him into Illyria. As Antonio says to Sebastian, “My desire, More sharp than filled steel, did spur me forth,” shows this. In this case Antonio’s love and friendship for Sebastian is real and very strong.
Sebastian is Viola’s twin brother who was situated in a shipwreck and saved by Antonio. He arrives in Illyria and arrives at Olivia’s court. He sees Olivia and agrees to her love for him instantly. As Sebastian says to Olivia in Act 4 Scene 2 “If it be thus to dream, still let me sleep,” proves this. He is also fancied by Antonio but rejects his love. Yet, his friendship with Antonio is very powerful.
Malvolio loves himself as Olivia says to him in Act 1 Scene 5 “O, you are sick of self-love, Malvolio.” He is also fond of Olivia only because she has a high status in society but she does not fancy him at all. When Maria writes a false love letter to Malvolio (as a joke, for revenge, and to make him a fool) explaining that Olivia wants him to smile for the whole day and dress himself up in what she wants, he does this to attract her. This signifies that Malvolio is willing to do anything for Olivia to love and marry him. Yet, Malvolio love’s is not true.
Maria is Olivia’s waiting-women who like Sir Toby and enjoys having fun with him such as getting drunk and humorous together as shown in Act 2 Scene 3. She treats him as an equal and tells him off when he does something inappropriate. Maria also knows Sir Toby’s faults and that they both know each other because they have a similar personality. When Maria plots a plan against Malvolio, which is successful, Sir Toby begins to like her even more. This makes their relationship comfortable which in the end builds up to the couple getting married. Maria benefits from marrying Sir Toby because her status in the family will be higher meaning that she will be more respected by Sir Toby’s and Olivia’s relatives.
By close examination of the text I do not agree with Orsino’s statement as regards the characters in Twelfth Night because love is not the same to each character. Most of the time, love is based on act and status especially for the women like Viola and Maria. The behavior of Duke Orsino, Olivia and Sebastian as they fall in love and out of love is irrational, misleading, quick, and not real. Love can be dangerous and deceptive for people who don’t understand themselves very well such as Malvolio. If you love the women passionately, she will love you. I partly agree with Orsino’s statement about love between women and men because only Antonio and the Duke love strongly and to depth, whereas Olivia’s and Malvolio’s love is unrealistic.
By Pawan 10N
Grade: B-