Lyla Dejesus
In Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, Count Orsino is in love with Lady Olivia, who is grieving for her dead brother and refuses to be seen. Viola, who has been shipwrecked and believes her twin brother Sebastian to be dead, disguises herself as a boy named Cesario and joins Orsino's household. Orsino sends Viola, as Cesario, to woo Olivia on his behalf. Olivia falls in love with Cesario, not knowing that they are the same person. When the truth is revealed, Orsino asks for Viola's hand in marriage, and she accepts. This scene, where Orsino proposes to Viola, marks a turning point in the play, resolving the mistaken identities and love triangles that have driven the plot.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Scene in which Orsino says he will wed Viola | Act 1, Scene 4 |
| Play | Twelfth Night |
| Character who disguises herself as a boy | Viola |
| Character who is in love with Olivia | Orsino |
| Character who falls in love with Viola | Olivia |
| Character who delivers a ring to Viola | Malvolio |
| Character who is a messenger to Olivia | Viola/Cesario |
| Character who is a steward | Malvolio |
| Character who is a suitor to Olivia | Sir Andrew Aguecheek |
| Character who is a lady-in-waiting | Maria |
| Character who is a Fool | Feste |
| Character who is a sea captain | Antonio |
| Character who is a kinsman to Olivia | Sir Toby Belch |
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What You'll Learn
Orsino asks Viola to woo Olivia on his behalf
In Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night", Orsino, Duke of Illyria, is in love with the Countess Olivia, who has vowed to grieve for her dead brother for seven years and refuses to be seen. Viola, shipwrecked off the coast of Illyria, believes her twin brother Sebastian to be dead. She disguises herself as a boy, Cesario, and enters Orsino's service.
Orsino sends Viola (as Cesario) to woo Olivia on his behalf, declaring:
> I have unclasped to thee the book even of my secret soul. Therefore, good youth, address thy gait unto her. Be not denied access. Stand at her doors and tell them, there thy fixed foot shall grow till thou have audience.
Viola expresses doubt, knowing that Olivia will not admit anyone to her presence. However, Orsino insists, saying:
> Be clamorous and leap all civil bounds rather than make unprofited return.
Viola, as Cesario, successfully delivers Orsino's love-suit to Olivia. However, Olivia falls in love with Cesario instead, unaware that Cesario is actually Viola in disguise.
Ultimately, the true identities of Viola and her brother Sebastian are revealed, and the puzzles surrounding their mistaken identities are solved. Orsino asks for Viola's hand in marriage, and she accepts. Sebastian and Olivia also find love with each other, and Malvolio, blaming Olivia and others for his humiliation, vows revenge.
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Viola disguises herself as a boy to join Orsino's retinue
In Shakespeare's *Twelfth Night*, Viola disguises herself as a boy, Cesario, to enter the service of Orsino, Duke of Illyria. She does this because she wishes to join the household of Olivia, who is being wooed by Orsino. However, Olivia is not admitting anyone into her presence. Therefore, by disguising herself as a boy, Viola is able to join Orsino's male retinue and be sent to woo Olivia on his behalf.
Viola is shipwrecked off the coast of Illyria and believes her twin brother, Sebastian, to be dead. She falls in love with Orsino and confides to the audience that she loves him. Viola gains Orsino's trust, and he sends her to woo Olivia for him. Viola, in her disguise as Cesario, appears at Olivia's estate, and Olivia falls in love with her. She sends her steward, Malvolio, after Cesario with a ring.
Viola, as Cesario, becomes Orsino's messenger and confidant. She says to Orsino, "I have unclasped to thee the book even of my secret soul". However, Viola is not the only one with a secret. Unbeknownst to her, her brother Sebastian is alive and has been rescued by a sea captain, Antonio.
The situation becomes further complicated when Olivia, meeting Cesario, declares her love. Sir Andrew, one of Olivia's suitors, is convinced that Olivia will never love him. To win her heart, Sir Toby persuades him to challenge Cesario to a duel. Antonio, believing Cesario to be Sebastian, comes to his defence and is arrested by Orsino's officers. Viola is delighted by Antonio's words, as they give her hope that her brother may be alive.
Throughout the play, Viola navigates the complexities of love and identity, all while maintaining her disguise as Cesario. The interplay between her true identity and her disguise as a boy creates a web of mistaken identities, confusion, and eventual joyful discovery.
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Orsino is sick with love for Olivia
In Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night", Count Orsino is sick with love for the Countess Olivia. In Act 1, Scene 1, Orsino is at his court, pining for Olivia. He learns from his messenger that she is grieving for her dead brother and refuses to be seen for seven years. Despite this, Orsino is determined to woo her, and he sends Cesario, who is actually Viola in disguise, to present his love to Olivia.
Orsino's love for Olivia is so strong that he is willing to persist in his pursuit, even though she has refused to see anyone. He says, "Be clamorous and leap all civil bounds / Rather than make unprofited return." This persistence pays off, as Olivia eventually falls in love with Cesario/Viola, not knowing that Viola is actually a woman.
Orsino's love for Olivia is also evident in the way he talks about her. He refers to her as "the wonderful beauty with which she has been adorned by nature; that miracle." He also says, "I have unclasped to thee the book even of my secret soul," indicating that he has shared his innermost thoughts and feelings with Olivia.
However, Olivia does not reciprocate Orsino's love. She falls in love with Cesario/Viola instead, creating a love triangle of sorts. Eventually, when Viola's true identity is revealed, Orsino asks for her hand in marriage, and they are betrothed.
Throughout the play, Orsino's love for Olivia drives the plot and creates tension and conflict among the characters. His sick love for Olivia sets the stage for the mistaken identities, love triangles, and dramatic irony that make "Twelfth Night" one of Shakespeare's most beloved comedies.
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Viola falls in love with Orsino
In Shakespeare's *Twelfth Night*, Viola falls in love with Orsino, the Duke of Illyria. The play, named for the twelfth night after Christmas, explores the themes of love and power.
Viola is shipwrecked off the coast of Illyria and believes her twin brother, Sebastian, is dead. She disguises herself as a boy, Cesario, and enters the service of Orsino, who is in love with Olivia, a woman with her own household and suitors. Viola wishes to join Olivia's household but is told that she will admit no one into her presence.
Viola, as Cesario, becomes Orsino's messenger and is sent to woo Olivia on his behalf. Viola falls in love with Orsino, and in Act 1, Scene 4, she reveals her true feelings:
> "I have heard my father name him...That he did seek the love of fair Olivia...O, that I served that lady, And might not be delivered to the world Till I had made mine own occasion mellow, What my estate is."
Viola's love for Orsino is further revealed in Act 3, Scene 1, when she, as Cesario, encounters Olivia. Olivia sends the others away and declares her love for Cesario, not knowing it is Viola in disguise. Viola, unable to reveal her true identity, responds with a declaration of her love for Orsino:
> "She never told her love, but let concealment, like a worm i' th' bud, Feed on her damask cheek. She pined in thought, And with a green and yellow melancholy She sat like Patience on a monument, Smiling at grief. Was not this love indeed? We men may say more, swear more, but indeed Our shows are more than will; for still, we prove Much in our vows but little in our love."
Orsino eventually learns of Viola's true identity and asks for her hand in marriage.
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Orsino asks for Viola's hand in marriage
In Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night", Orsino, the Duke of Illyria, falls in love with Viola, who is disguised as Cesario, a boy in his male retinue. Viola, having survived a shipwreck, disguises herself as a boy to join the household of Countess Olivia, whom Orsino desires. However, Olivia falls in love with Viola's disguised persona, Cesario, creating a love triangle.
Throughout the play, Orsino confides in Viola, believing her to be Cesario, and shares his feelings for Olivia. In Act 1, Scene 4, Orsino says to Viola:
> "I have unclasped to thee the book even of my secret soul. Therefore, good youth, address thy gait unto her. Be not denied access. Stand at her doors and tell them, there thy fixed foot shall grow till thou have audience."
Here, Orsino entrusts Viola with his deepest emotions, expressing his longing for Olivia. He urges Viola to persist in delivering his love messages to Olivia, even if she refuses to meet with her.
In Act 1, Scene 5, Viola, still disguised as Cesario, meets with Olivia privately. Olivia falls in love with Cesario, unaware that it is Viola, and sends her steward, Malvolio, after Cesario with a ring, pretending it is a gift from Orsino that she wants returned.
Eventually, the truth is revealed, and in Act 1, Scene 5, Orsino asks for Viola's hand in marriage. The puzzles of mistaken identities are solved when Viola's twin brother, Sebastian, appears, and it is discovered that Cesario is indeed Viola in disguise. Orsino's love for Viola is revealed, and he asks for her hand, while Sebastian and Olivia also find their pairing.
Thus, in "Twelfth Night", Orsino's initial pursuit of Olivia leads to a complex web of mistaken identities and unrequited love. However, the truth ultimately prevails, and Orsino asks for Viola's hand, resolving the comedic entanglements of the play.
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Frequently asked questions
Orsino says he will wed Viola in Act 1, Scene 5.
Orsino is initially sick with love for the Lady Olivia.
Viola wishes to join Olivia's household.
Viola disguises herself as a boy, Cesario, to join Orsino's male retinue.
When Viola and Sebastian appear together, Orsino asks for Viola's hand, and Viola agrees to marry him.
