Blog #9: Twelfth Night (Act I and II)

William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night is the most known play for the theme of mistaken identity and one of the most intricate love complexes. This story has been reused many times after being seen in Shakespeare’s play. It has a very important lesson to learn of just being yourself.

Throughout the play the reader meets many new characters all that basically intertwine with one another. The main character is Viola. She is a girl who has fallen in love the Duke and when she comes to town, decides to dress up as a male to get closer to the Duke. Viola dresses up as Cesario a teenage boy and she quickly becomes one of the favorite servants and becomes an assistant to helping the Duke win over his lover. At the beginning she is hesitant to help him out but then gives in and helps because of her love for him.

The Duke is scheming his plan to win over Olivia. Olivia has just lost her brother and has vowed her self to isolation of love for seven years. She is courted constantly but has made it clear to all of the town that she is not interested in finding love. The Duke was not challenged by this and knew that he could win her over. He sends over Viola to woo Olivia.

However, not according to the plan Olivia falls for someone else. This someone else being the male version of Viola. To show her love, Olivia sends Viola a ring and hopes that she will return the love back. Viola is confused by all of this but knows that she must keep up the act and insist the Duke upon Olivia and take herself off the map.

At the point where we stopped reading, we leave the play in the love triangle. Olivia in love with Viola. Viola in love with Duke. And Duke in love with Olivia. This whole problem would be solved if Viola had not lied about her identity. It must be hardest on Viola because she has to deal with the man that she loves swooning over someone else. And she has to deal with the fact that a woman has fallen in love with her lie.