Olivia over-dramatises her loss and therefore her love. “If I cannot recover your niece, I am a foul way out.”īoth Olivia and Viola mourn the death of a brother in the play but Viola demonstrates a more practical approach, taking care of herself.
Sir Andrew’s love is also foolish he is duped to believe that he is an accomplished suitor for the hand of Olivia. Here Shakespeare displays the follies of love. His loves for Olivia arises out of his self-love: it is fantasy, the product of his vanity and conceit. In the sub-plot, Malvolio is led to believe that Olivia, his mistress loves him. Maria worries from the beginning about Toby’s “quaffing and drinking”. Their love seems more pragmatic: Sir Toby, it is reported, married Maria in “recompense” for her part in a trick, yet they are great friends throughout the play.
His is also a love at first sight, and he does not stop to examine its depth.Īs well as the marriages of Olivia and Sebastian, Orsino and Viola, the play sees the wedding of Sir Toby and Maria, an odd couple who are nevertheless well suited. Sebastian’s is natural but not full grown like that of Viola. It is “love at first sight.” It is “the quick flaming which is more of the senses than of the soul.” Moreover, Olivia’s impulsive and reckless love for Cesario is ironically as misjudged and misguided as Orsino’s love for her. But she also has better ideas than Orsino on how to woo Olivia, and only has to promise Olivia to “build me a willow cabin at your gate”. She falls for someone she comes to know well, which she can only do because she’s disguised as a man. Viola actually proves that women can have strong romantic love. It is passion not only of the senses but of intellect and the soul. It is born of the heart and it is silent and ardent. Viola has a real, deep love for the Duke. Character Sketch of Viola in Twelfth Night.