And what should I do in Illyria?

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And what should I do in Illyria?
My brother, he is in Elysium.

(1.2.2-3)

Viola believes that her brother has drowned during the storm that wrecked the ship. She asks what is to become of her now that her brother is no longer alive to protect her. Elysium, the classical Greek equivalent to heaven represents a place of peace and eternal joy. The similarity in the sounds of the names seems to link Illyria with Elysium, suggesting a place of security and happiness. The inference is that Illyria will eventually provide the healing that Viola needs after the (apparent) loss of her brother. (Go to the quote in the

There is a fair behaviour in thee, captain
And though that nature with a beauteous wall
Doth oft close in pollution, yet of thee
I well believe thou hast a mind that suits
With this thy fair and outward character.

(1.2.43-47)

Viola confides her plans for disguising herself as a boy to the Sea-Captain who has saved her from the storm. She comments that although a fair and kindly exterior can sometimes conceal a corrupt soul, she believes that the Captain's nature is as true and loyal as his appearance suggests. This being so she intends to trust him with her secret plan of dressing herself as a boy to protect herself whilst she is in Illyria, and will even ask the Captain's aid in achieving this. (Go to the quote in the )

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Did you never see the picture of 'we three'?
(2.3.15-16)

This is a topical reference to the caption of contemporary seventeenth-century 'trick' pictures of two fools or clowns, in which the viewer of the picture then becomes the third 'fool'. An anonymous painting of two fools, possibly the well-known jesters Tom Derry and Archie Armstrong, exists by this title 'WeeThree Logerhds' and it is possible that Shakespeare has something like this painting in mind when he wrote this line. Other versions are known to have existed as inn signs, in which the two 'fools' were depicted as asses, which ...

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