Shakespeare’s play, The Twelfth Night explores many aspects of human living and one of these aspects is Love. Various types of love are evident in the play. For instance, there is sibling love between Viola and Sebastian, romantic love expressed by Duke Orsino towards Countess Olivia and infatuation disguised as love as in the case of Malvolio’s feelings towards his lady Countess Olivia. Homosexual love has been a theme in several of Shakespeare’s writings such as in Merchant of Venice, as in the love that exists between the characters Bassanio and Antonio. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that there is evidence of erotic homosexual love as presented by the feelings Orsino expressed towards Cesario (Viola disguised as a man) and the feelings Antonio expressed towards Sebastian. More so, critics describe the feelings expressed by these characters as romantic. Love in this play holds a crucial role of defining the characters in the play, determining the plot of the play and the subsequent destiny of individual characters by defining by way of enhancing and limiting the interactions, the characters have with each other in various situations (Ray 12).
Power of Love in Determining Characteristics of Individuals:
Love in this play has the power to define the emotions and thereby determine the characteristics of the participants. The first case is Orsino’s actions when he is in love. He sits around the whole day thinking about love, talking about his love and finding ways to woo her. He even results to listening to music while lying on a bed of roses to calm his soul. All the while, he is in a melancholic state owing to the fact that he is in love and the object of his affection is not responsive to his feelings.
“o spirit of love! How quick and fresh art thou,That, notwithstanding thy capacityReceiveth as the sea, nought enters there”(Shakespeare Act I scene i).
On the other hand, when the countess Olivia falls in love, she loosens up and lets down her guard. She offers her love (Cesario) gifts and engages in un-lady like behaviors such as begging him to be with her.
“And I beseech you come again to-morrow.What shall you ask of me that I'll deny, That honor saved may upon asking give?” (Shakespeare Act III scene i)
In his previous life, Antonio was a tough man for he even beat the Dukes men at a duel. However, his love for Sebastian has made him soft. He remarks that he has many enemies in the duke’s court but since he adores Sebastian, he will overlook this fact and escort him to Illyria.Minus the risk of facing Orsino’s wrath, Antonio commits to making Sebastian comfortable through companionship and providing for his physical needs in the strange land (Shakespeare Act III scene iii). Finally, there is the uptight Malvolio who in most of act II and iii is making a fool of himself because he thinks his mistress Viola is in love with him. He does as the letter his love sent him dictates he walks around wearing yellow stockings and crossed garters while smiling continuously which the witty Maria describes as”acting like a complete ass” (Shakespeare Act III scene iii).
Power of Love in Determining the Plot of the Play:
Love also acts as the main component that steers the plot of the play. Orsino’s love for Cesario causes him to trust him quickly and appoint him his personal messenger. It is in this capacity as a messenger that Olivia falls in love with Cesario and by default Sebastian who appears later in the play. Like in real life, the play alludes that people have no control over love.
“Even so quickly may one catch the plague?Methinks I feel this youth's perfectionsWith an invisible and subtle stealthTo creep in at mine eyes. Well, let it be” (Shakespeare Act I scene iii).
Olivia so quotes when she resigns herself to the feelings she has for Cesario just after meeting him for the first time. In the same way Love controls the plot of the play so does Love control the choices people make in life. Another twist in plot is evident in Antonio’s love for Sebastian that causes him to escort Sebastian to Illyria where he subsequently marries Countess Olivia and re-units with his sister. In addition, Sebastian’s appearance put an end to Viola’s folly and re-united her with her love Orsino. Finally, there is the unfolding of the subplot that serves to make the whole play humorous also resulting from the influence of love. Olivia’s fake confession of love to Malvolio is the basis for the existence of the hilarious characters Belch, Maria and partly the clown who make jest of the situation. In addition, these characters enable Shakespeare to examine social classes in view of love and its ability to surpass some social restrictions such as family heritage (Davies 113).
Power of Love in Determining the Destiny of the Characters:
Love also has the power to cause much grieve and happiness as is evident throughout the play. In the face of betrayal, Orsino goes wild and declares that he will kill Cesario for his betrayal while all the while referring to her as “his gentleman, Cesario” (Shakespeare Act V). Olivia accepts this as her fate and is, therefore, willing to die for her love for Orsino even though she had not committed any of the acts that the other characters claimed (Shakespeare Act V). However, it is not clear whether the duke was upset over loosing Olivia or Cesario (Davies 102). Perhaps the fact that he readily accepted Violas love in place of Cesario’s should settle this doubt (Davies 103). Seeing as the society at this time only accepted the conventional state of marriage is evident that some forms of love are bound to suffer such as the love Antonio has for Sebastian. In this case, Antonio remains the unfortunate party who did not get what he wanted in view of love and, therefore, bore the unhappy ending. In the same light also, the love between Orsino and Cesario was bound to remain as courteous affection until viola revealed her identity as a woman and not a man. However, both Viola and Olivia found happiness in love with the reciprocation of their love by Orsino and Sebastian respectively (Shakespeare Act V).
Conclusion:
One wonders whether the characters are truly in love or merely intrigued by the thought of being in love or receiving love from another. This suspicion confirmed by the fact that both the duke and Olivia readily propose to other persons and thereby marry them instead of staying loyal to the persons whom they professed to love. Whatever the case the play is a clear example of how love or the illusion of love, thereof, has massive influence (power) on individual’s character and other life situations (Ray 45).
Works Cited:
Davies, Stevie. William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night. California: Penguin Books, digitized in 2010.
Malone, Edmond. The Plays & Poems of Shakespeare. New York: H:O. Bohn, 1857.
Ray, Ratri. William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. New York: Atlantic Publishers & Distributors, 2006.
Shakespeare, William. Twelfth Night: Or, What You Will. London: Classic Books Company, compiled in 2001.
