Twelfth Night Group

Question:

chillichicken
chillichicken
Student
High School - 9th Grade

In Twelfth Night, why did not Olivia respond to the Duke's proposal?

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Posted by chillichicken on Wednesday September 26, 2007 at 8:16 AM and tagged with act 1, duke, olivia, proposal, twelfth night.

Answers:


  1. jamie-wheeler Teacher
    College - Sophomore

    eNotes Editor

    Hi-  We are not an essay writing service, but I can give you some direction.

    Olivia refuses the Duke's proposal because she is has unwittingly fallen in love with Cesario, who is really Viola in disguise.  Olivia is a romantic who believes in love at first sight, and she waxes on about her sudden infatuation with "Cesario" in Act 1:  Methinks I feel this youth's perfection with an invisible and subtle stealth / To creep in at mine eyes"  (1.5.287-88)

    Later, Cesario will try to woo Olivia on the Duke's behalf, but will not be successful.  Fortunately, the Duke has fallen in love with Viola (Cesario) now, and everything works out happily for all involved in the end.   

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/twelfth

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    Posted by jamie-wheeler on Wednesday September 26, 2007 at 9:27 AM

  2. rihannamclean
    rihannamclean Student
    High School - 11th Grade

    she did not answer the duke's proposal because when she saw Orsino her 'heart was on fire' she was truly in lllllllllllllllloooooooovvvvvvvveeeeeeee

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    Posted by rihannamclean on Thursday October 15, 2009 at 4:33 AM