shakemenu.GIF - 5152 Bytes
 THE CHANGING ROLE IN VIOLA/CESARIO INThe Twelfth Night

    In Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night", it is clearly evident 

that the fluctuation in attitude to the dual role and 

situation and tribulations imposed upon the character of 

Viola/Cesario ends up in a better understanding of both 

sexes, and thus, allows Viola to have a better understanding 

for Orsino.  Near the opening of the play, when Viola is 

adopting her male identity, she creates another self, like 

two masks and may decide to wear one or the other while 

swinging between the two identities in emotion and in 

character.  She decides to take on this identity because she 

has more freedom in society in her Cesario mask, which is 

evident when  she is readily accepted by Orsino, whereas, in 

her female identity she would not be.  Thus, a customary 

role in society and to the outlooks of others is portrayed.



    Orsino sees Cesario, as a young squire just starting out 

in the world, much like himself as a young, spry lad, so he 

has a tendency to be more willing to unload onto her with 

his troubles and sorrows, seeking a companion with which to 

share and to teach.  Thus, Viola grows in her male disguise 

to get a better feeling for his inner self, not the self 

that he shows to the public, or would reveal and share with 

Viola in her true female self, but rather his secret self, 

as he believes he shares with a peer.  So, she grows to love 

him.  But, Orsino's motivation is actually not love for 

Viola, but rather he seems to be in love with love itself.  

His entire world is filled with love but he knows that there 

might be a turning point for him, like when he says:

    



    If music be the food of love, play on; give me

    excess of it, that, surfeiting, the appetite may

    sicken, and so die.  1.  (I,I,I-III)

    



This quote shows that he knows that he is so caught up in 

"love", that he hopes his appetite for love may simmer when 

he takes more than he can handle.  













1.  Shakespeare, William. Twelfth Night. Longman's Canada 

Limited, Don Mills, Ontario, 1961.  All subsequent quotes 

are from this edition. 











    Near the end of the play, when all tricks and 

treacheries are revealed and all masks are lifted, Orsino 

"falls" in love with Viola.  He first forgives her/him of 

her/his duty to him, the master; then says that she shall 

now be her master's mistress: 

   



    Your master quits you; and for your service

    done him, so much against the mettle of your

    sex, so far beneath your soft and tender

    breeding, and since you call'd me master for

    so long, here is my hand.  You shall from

    this time be your master's mistress.  (V,I,322-327)





  This is sort of a switching love as he thought he was in 

love with Olivia in the beginning, but, he readily switches 

his love to Viola, as he feels he knows her personality 

well.





    As for Viola, she declares her love for Orsino many 

times, as if by saying that she would love him if she were a 

lady.  When Orsino first sends Cesario to act as a messenger 

and send Orsino's love to Olivia, Cesario proclaims:





    I'll do my best to woo your lady; [aside] 

    yet, a barful strife!  Whoe'er I woo,

    myself would be his wife.  (I,IV, 40-42)





This shows that Viola knows what a difficult situation that 

she is in, and that she might try to woo her out of loving 

Orsino, so that she might have him for herself; except there 

is a slight, unexpected twist of fate...  

 

    After Cesario leaves from Olivia's, she declares:





    "What is your parentage?"  "Above my fortunes,   

    yet my state is well; I am a gentleman."  I'll

    be sworn thou art.  Thy tongue, thy face, thy 

    limbs, and spirit, do give thee five-fold blazon.

    Not too fast: soft, soft!  Unless the master were

    the man.  How now!  Even so quickly may one catch

    the plague?  Methinks I feel this youth's per-

    fections with an invisible and subtle stealth to

    creep in at mine eyes.  Well, let it be.  What 

    ho, Malvolio!  (I,V, 289-298)











Olivia, is thinking back to her question to Cesario, and his 

response to it.  Then she replies to Cesario's response, to 

herself, thinking about him.  She agrees with his response, 

then goes over his many delightful features, and wonders how 

she so quickly has caught the plague of love for young 

Cesario.  She decides that it is her feeling towards his 

youthful perfections that creep into her heart and to her 

eyes.  Then she agrees with her decision, and sends for 

Malvolio, in hope that he may recall Cesario, so that she 

may talk with him again.  Olivia feels a strong passionate 

love for Cesario, even though it was love at first sight for 

her.  Cesario presented (himself) very magnificently and 

left a lasting impression in Olivia's mind.  



    The next time that Cesario came by, Olivia declared:





    Cesario, by the roses of the spring, by maid-

    hood, honour, truth and everything, I love 

    thee so, that, maugre all thy pride, nor wit

    nor reason can my passion hide.  (III,I,145-148)





This verifies that Olivia is profoundly in love with 

Cesario, despite all his pride.  But, Cesario does not 

possess the same sentiments for Olivia as he says:



    By innocence I swear, and by my youth, I have 

    one heart, one bosom and one truth, And that

    no woman has; nor never none shall mistress 

    be of it, save I alone.  And so adieu, good 

    madam.  (III,I,153-157)





Here, Viola tells Olivia that she could never love her, nor 

any other woman because she only has one love (to Orsino) 

and is loyal.  But, Olivia is still in love, and requests 

that Cesario return.



    Overall, Viola learns that in the role of Cesario she 

had to be quick on her feet, and defend the probing 

questions and statements as to her love and others love for 

her.  As well she acquired the skill to bide her time, until 

the time was right, lest she reveal her true self or 

intentions.



Back To the Top ] [ Back To Essay Page ]
Complete Works Cliff Notes Free Papers! Biography Shakespeare Links Shakespeare discussion