Critical Analysis of Shakespeares Twelfth Night Essay...

William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night is a comedy, first published in 1623. Love is a key aspect of Shakespeare’s comedies in which self-identity is found through the development of love from infatuation to acknowledgement of character. Orsino is the epitome of Shakespeare’s transformation of self. In the beginning of the play, Orsino is self-absorbed and head-over-heels for Olivia. In this stage of love we see Orsino’s infatuation and selfishness in his feelings of love. As the play moves on, Viola comes into Orsino’s life and we see glimpses of Orsino’s understanding of what love is and how a person should feel with love. By the end of the play, Orsino realizes his self worth through his love for Olivia and how love really feels to care†¦show more content†¦Tell her my love, more noble than the world,... ‘tis that miracle and queen of gems That nature pranks her in attracts my soul (2.4, 81-87). In this quote, Orsino clearly states that Olivia is cruel to him, yet his love for her is because of her beauty. When Viola comes into Orsino’s life, we can begin to see a small shift in Orsino’s thoughts of love as Viola tells him her views. Orsino fully trusts Viola/Cesario as he tells her to go to Olivia and pursue her for him. Orsino states, â€Å"I have unclasped/To thee the book even of my secret soul† (1.4, 13-14), showing the reader that they have a close bond and trust between the two of them. When Orsino says, â€Å"Make no compare/Between that love a woman can bear me/And that I owe Olivia† (2.4, 102-104), Viola contradicts him and states, â€Å"In faith, they are as true of heart as we† (2.4, 107). Though Orsino doesn’t reply, it seems that Orsino believes Viola. There’s also a glimpse, almost a foreshadowing, of Orsino’s realization that Cesario is Viola when he states, â€Å"Is not more smooth and rubious; thy sma ll pipe/Is as the maiden’s organ, shrill and sound,/And all is semblative a woman’s part† (1.4, 32-34). In Act five, Orsino finds himself, his realization of true love comes out as he realizes Cesario is Viola, a woman, and they are a perfect match together. In the beginning of act five, it seems that the conversation between Feste and Orsino foreshadows Orsino’s realization. When Feste states that friends aren’tShow MoreRelatedThemes Of Social Mobility Through Marriage1655 Words   |  7 PagesThis paper critically analyses the theme of social mobility through marriage in Shakespeare’s play ‘Twelfth Night’. In addition, the paper highlights how different characters in the play got into higher social classes or desired to be in higher social classes through marriage. 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