Home > Twelfth Night Summary & Study Guide > FAQs > How can Duke Orsino switch his affections so quickly from Olivia to Viola?
Twelfth Night | How can Duke Orsino switch his affections so quickly from Olivia to Viola?
At the conclusion of Twelfth Night, Viola sheds her disguise as the young officer Cesario, Duke Orsino instantly drops his opposition to her (and her twin brother Sebastian's) love for Olivia and then "switches" his affections to a young woman whom he has thus far known only as a man. The gender confusion aside, this turnabout seems extremely odd, for Orsino has doggedly pursued his Olivia, praising the singularity of her character and charms. From the outset of the play we are directed to the fickleness of Orsino's moods, as when he first orders music to accompany reverie over...
[The entire page is 178 words long]
Join eNotes
The above is a free excerpt. Get total access to this content with the:
Summary and Analysis – Themes – Characters – And much more...
Join eNotes
Over 3,500 study guides, question and answer forums, literature criticism, reference content, and much more!
Navigate
- Twelfth Night: Introduction
- Twelfth Night: Summary
- Twelfth Night: William Shakespeare Biography
- Twelfth Night: Reading Shakespeare
- Twelfth Night: List of Characters
- Twelfth Night: Historical Background
-
Twelfth Night: Summary and Analysis
- Act I, Scene 1 Summary and Analysis
- Act I, Scene 2 Summary and Analysis
- Act I, Scene 3 Summary and Analysis
- Act I, Scene 4 Summary and Analysis
- Act I, Scene 5 Summary and Analysis
- Act II, Scene 1 Summary and Analysis
- Act II, Scene 2 Summary and Analysis
- Act II, Scene 3 Summary and Analysis
- Act II, Scene 4 Summary and Analysis
- Act II, Scene 5 Summary and Analysis
- Act III, Scene 1 Summary and Analysis
- Act III, Scene 2 Summary and Analysis
- Act III, Scene 3 Summary and Analysis
- Act III, Scene 4 Summary and Analysis
- Act IV, Scene 1 Summary and Analysis
- Act IV, Scene 2 Summary and Analysis
- Act IV, Scene 3 Summary and Analysis
- Act V, Scene 1 Summary and Analysis
-
Twelfth Night: Quizzes
- Act I, Scene 1 Questions and Answers
- Act I, Scene 2 Questions and Answers
- Act I, Scene 3 Questions and Answers
- Act I, Scene 4 Questions and Answers
- Act I, Scene 5 Questions and Answers
- Act II, Scene 1 Questions and Answers
- Act II, Scene 2 Questions and Answers
- Act II, Scene 3 Questions and Answers
- Act II, Scene 4 Questions and Answers
- Act II, Scene 5 Questions and Answers
- Act III, Scene 1 Questions and Answers
- Act III, Scene 2 Questions and Answers
- Act III, Scene 3 Questions and Answers
- Act III, Scene 4 Questions and Answers
- Act IV, Scene 1 Questions and Answers
- Act IV, Scene 2 Questions and Answers
- Act IV, Scene 3 Questions and Answers
- Act V, Scene 1 Questions and Answers
- Twelfth Night: Essential Passages
- Twelfth Night: Themes
-
Twelfth Night: Character Analysis
- Sir Andrew Aguecheek (Character Analysis)
- Sir Toby Belch (Character Analysis)
- Fabian (Character Analysis)
- Feste the Clown (Character Analysis)
- Malvolio (Character Analysis)
- Maria (Character Analysis)
- Olivia (Character Analysis)
- Orsino (Character Analysis)
- Sebastian (Character Analysis)
- Viola (Character Analysis)
- Antonio (Character Analysis)
- Other Characters (Analysis)
- Twelfth Night: Principal Topics
- Twelfth Night: Essays
- Twelfth Night: Criticism
- Twelfth Night: Selected Quotes
- Twelfth Night: Suggested Essay Topics
- Twelfth Night: Sample Essay Outlines
- Twelfth Night: Modern Connections
- Twelfth Night: FAQs
- Twelfth Night: Bibliography and Further Reading
- Twelfth Night: Pictures
- Copyright
Tell a friend about Twelfth Night at eNotes.
