Violas Disguise in Twelfth Night :: Twelfth Night essays

As in most comedies, William Shakespeares Twelfth dark extensively uses disguises, masks and mistaken identities to add to the comical nature of the feed. genus genus Violas disguise as Orsinos page, Cesario, becomes crucial to the action in the assemble. Without this important element, the action in the play would slow down dramatically, making the story much less intriguing. In addition to making the play less interesting, the disguise is also infallible to develop the storyline involving Sebastian, and the confusion that his return creates. It also is vital to the troth between Olivia and Orsino, which depends on Violas disguise to keep things exciting. Violas disguise becomes increasing more(prenominal) important as the events take place. The majority of the plot lines depend on the disguise. Without it, the main theme of the play would be the gulling of Malvolio. In a play where most of the characters fall in cognise with each other, blind to the sexual prac tice and true identity of the objects of their desires, a disguise like Violas becomes the center of the action, and causes some all the of the important aspects of the play. The confusion that Sebastian creates when he returns would not occur without Violas disguise. Sir Andrew believes that the womanhood of his desires, Olivia, is spending too much time with Cesario, and challenges him to a duel. As he put it, Olivia was doing more favors to the Counts servingman than ever she bestowed upon me. (3-2 l.5-7) At first, Viola is nearly labored into a battle, but is saved when the confused Antonio arrives. Later on, Sebastian and Andrew do push involved in a scuffle, for which Viola is unjustly blamed. Finally Sebastian and Viola are reunited, but only after they have already caused a large amount of chaos and have confused everyone. It is only then(prenominal) that everyone begins to discover the extent of Violas trickery. More disorder is created when Olivia, who Orsino is hopelessly in love with, falls for Cesario, who is secretly in love with Orsino. Orsino sends Cesario to express his affection for Olivia, which Cesario/Viola is not thrilled with. As she puts it, whoeer I woo, myself would be his wife. (1-4 l.