Twelfth Night Group

Question:

jia42
jia42
Student
Graduate School

Explain the essential womanliness in viola's character? give examples from the text

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Posted by jia42 on Sunday November 8, 2009 at 9:53 PM and tagged with jgdthil, twelfth night.

Answers:


  1. kc4u Teacher
    College - Senior

    eNotes Editor

    In her sincere and silent modesty of love, Viola represents essential womanliness in Shakespeare's comedy, Twelfth Night. Shipwrecked at Illyria, Viola betrays an early affection for the 'noble duke ' Orsino in act 1 sc.2. Disguised in male attire, she becomes Orsino's favourite in some three days. Orsino endearingly refers to Cesario's(Viola's) rubious lips and sweet voice. As Cesario goes to meet the Countess Olivia as a messenger of Orsino's love, Olivia instantaneously falls in love with the Duke's envoy, Viola's essentially feminine gracefulness working wonders from behind her male exterior.

    Viola, herself being a woman, well understands the passion of Olivia's heart and feels for her. She maintains her disguise, but she is often apprehensive of being exposed. As she is essentially a woman, she gets frightened at the prospect of fighting a duel with her supposed rival in love, Sir Andrew.

    Viola's honest loyalty to the Duke, her endurance, the charming gracefulness of her person and behaviour make her one of Shakespeare's most adorable women.

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    Posted by kc4u on Monday November 9, 2009 at 11:26 AM