Do the Three Characters trapped in the ‘Love Triangle’ Essay Example
Do the Three Characters trapped in the ‘Love Triangle’ Essay Example

Do the Three Characters trapped in the ‘Love Triangle’ Essay Example

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  • Pages: 5 (1356 words)
  • Published: October 29, 2017
  • Type: Essay
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Twelfth Night is an intriguing mix of emotions. It combines the sadness of a brother and sister being apart, the excitement of falling in love, and the humor of gentle sarcasm and irony. The play concludes with a joyous ending where the siblings are reunited and find love with their desired partners. Along the way, there are mistaken identities, clever plots to deceive naive characters, and the satisfying comeuppance of pompous individuals. The main characters in the play possess diverse personalities.

Viola, also known as "Cesario", elicits immediate sympathy from the reader. Placed in an unfamiliar land with her parents deceased, she is left with her sole source of love, her brother Sebastian, who may be lost or even deceased. To persevere, Viola is compelled to assume a male identity, ultimately reaping significant benefits. Despit

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e assuming an alternative persona during her stay in Ilyria, Viola frequently resorts to deceit. Nevertheless, her lies are necessary for her survival as Cesario.

Throughout the play, there are additional lies that create the perception that Viola is a liar. One such lie occurs when Viola, masquerading as Cesario, finds herself drawn to Duke Orsino. The duke is puzzled by his unexpected attraction towards someone he believes to be a man. Viola believes that she will never be able to win over Duke Orsino due to various factors, including her background.

Viola, an orphan, has had limited opportunities to interact with the opposite sex. She feels that the Duke is unattainable due to her social status and her disguise as a man. In order to have a chance with the Duke Orsino, Viola would need to reveal her true identity. This puts her

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in a difficult situation where deceit seems like the only option. The predicament Viola faces creates tension between her and the Duke, leading to the revelation of his arrogant side.

The opening chapter highlights the Duke's spoiled and arrogant nature. He is upset and self-pitying because he cannot win over Olivia, the woman he desires. He takes out his frustration on his court and those around him. When a servant asks if he would like to go hunting, Duke Orsino responds, "Yes, I do. It is the noblest activity that I engage in. Oh, when I first saw Olivia, it was as if she purified the air of disease. In that moment, I transformed into a deer, and my desires have been pursuing me like vicious and relentless hounds ever since." (Act 1, Scene 1).

In this scene, the Duke demonstrates his outward emotions of heartbreak and desire for someone lively to be around him. He is tired of dealing with the dull members of his court. When Viola disguises herself as Cesario and joins the Duke's court, she brings a joyful and vibrant atmosphere. This sets the stage for a complicated love triangle. Viola has feelings for the duke and does her best to resist his advances and focus on her work. However, his charm and attractiveness make it difficult for Viola to resist the allure of Orsino.

During her interactions with the Duke, Viola discovers another aspect of his character. He is not just an arrogant man pursuing Lady Olivia; he also has a different side. Gradually, Viola's presence convinces the Duke that he may be falling in love. As time goes on, the

Duke finds himself increasingly attracted to Cesario and begins questioning his own sexual preferences. However, eventually the truth comes out and the Duke finally gets the woman he has been searching for – Viola. She possesses impressive psychological abilities to transform a petulant man into a caring and loving individual. Despite facing various deceptions in her life, Viola proves herself to be compassionate and genuine.

Viola is reunited with her long-lost brother, Sebastian, after a series of complicated events at the conclusion of the play. She also enters into marriage with Duke Orsino, receiving recognition for her significant and compassionate role. Although it is commonly believed that Duke Orsino does not deserve his happy ending, he undergoes a transformation under Viola's influence. Initially depicted as arrogant and egotistical, Viola successfully alters his outlook and behavior.

Despite the Duke's belief that everyone worships him, this is not the reality. Throughout the play, he never learns proper manners and always expects his desires to be fulfilled. While his marriage to Viola may seem undeserved, it is possibly outweighed by the fact that Viola is the most deserving character who deserves a fair recompense. The Duke has allowed Lady Olivia to dominate his life, causing him to become even more twisted. There is a moment in the play where Duke Orsino threatens to kill Cesano.

Orsino's difficulty in discovering genuine love may stem from his lack of self-assurance and previous encounters with bullying or neglect. Consequently, he resorts to bullying others and has difficulty comprehending the concept of love. A significant portion of his time is spent indulging in self-pity and seeking attention, unaware that his true love, Viola, is right

before him. Due to Viola's disguise as Cesario, Orsino fails to acknowledge his own emotions and frequently disregards Cesario out of insecurity, demonstrated when he instructs her to court Lady Olivia on his behalf.

This action serves as the primary catalyst for the love triangle's formation. Although Duke Orsino fails to win Lady Olivia's love, he ultimately falls in love with Viola. Personally, I believe that the Duke is undeserving of this outcome. Viola, who deserves someone far superior, continuously pursues him throughout their adventure. It appears as if Viola is a secondary choice for the Duke, as he cannot convince Lady Olivia to be with him. In my opinion, Orsino experiences a fortunate conclusion by being paired with Viola. Initially, she believed she was not in his league, and perhaps she was correct.

She believed the Duke was too superior for her, but it may have been the opposite. Lady Olivia is the third person involved in the love triangle. At first, Duke Orsino sends Viola (Cesario) to woo Olivia on his behalf. He holds her in high regard and desires her love. However, as Viola carries out her mission to unite Orsino and Olivia, she unintentionally entangles herself in a complicated situation. Her proximity to Orsino establishes the bond between them that has been spoken of. However, because Olivia mistakenly perceives Viola (disguised as Cesario) as a man, she starts developing feelings for Viola.

Olivia starts to relate to Cesario's masculinity and begins to develop feelings for "his" sensitive and caring side. Olivia confides in Viola and even expresses her emotions towards her, to which Viola responds by saying "I am not what I am". Viola

then departs, leaving Olivia pondering over the recent events. Olivia becomes ensnared in a prank targeted at Malvolio, which may present her as somewhat of a bully, as she attacks those who are weaker. Throughout the play, Malvolio remains honest towards Lady Olivia, making her treatment of him appear excessively harsh in my opinion.

Lady Olivia's servants and Sir Toby played a prank, but it was Lady Olivia who came up with the idea. The arrival of Sebastian at the end complicates things, with Olivia mistaking him for her twin sister Viola (Cesario). Eventually, Olivia and Sebastian end up together, despite Sebastian's confusion. This turns out to be fortunate, as Sebastian and Olivia form a connection. Additionally, Sebastian is reunited with his long-lost sister Viola. In my opinion, Viola receives the well-deserved rewards at the end of Twelfth Night.

She discovers a man whom she adores and will treasure forever. Being an exceptionally sincere and caring individual, I firmly believe that she is deserving of the man she has always dreamt of. However, the Duke is detestable and unworthy of Viola. He is infatuated with love to a foolish extent and does not merit any woman in Ilyria. Moreover, Viola's previously lost twin brother is coincidentally reunited with her and becomes Lady Olivia's newfound fixation. In the end, most characters find happiness, but it is only Viola who attains the ending that truly suits her.

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