Viola
Extended Character Analysis
Viola is the protagonist of Shakespeare’s comedy Twelfth Night. She is an aristocrat who disguises herself as a young man named Cesario after being shipwrecked on the coast of Illyria. Viola is witty, resourceful, and charismatic. She shows self-control and dignity in contrast to the bombastic, overly sentimental performances of Orsino and Lady Olivia.
In the aftermath of the shipwreck, Viola has lost her twin brother, Sebastian. Viola decides to disguise herself as a man in order to survive in a male-dominated world. Her disguise acts as a protection. Without her brother, Viola is alone and unable to make a living. Disguised as Cesario, she is able to find a job under Orsino, the Duke of Illyria.
Viola as Cesario
Viola’s disguise brings confusion and duplicity into other characters’ lives as well as her own. As Cesario, Viola also provides insight into characters such as Lady Olivia and Duke Orsino. Although Viola is well-meaning, she realizes that her disguise leads to ill consequences. For example, Orsino, who is infatuated with Lady Olivia, orders Cesario to go and woo Lady Olivia for him. Viola, who is rational and logical, at first avers that Olivia wouldn’t let her in. However, Viola must do Orsino’s bidding, and in an aside Viola claims, “Whoe’er I woo, myself would be his wife.” This shows that Viola has already decided to love and marry Orsino, despite her disguise and situation.
Unfortunately, when Cesario arrives at Lady Olivia’s home to deliver Orsino’s message, Olivia falls in love with Cesario instead. Viola’s disguise highlights Lady Olivia’s true desires. Olivia does not love Orsino, and she is hypocritical in how she throws out her proclaimed mourning period to court Cesario. Viola sees the fallacy and misfortune in Olivia’s love for Cesario, saying “Poor lady, she were better love a dream.”
Viola also finds herself the subject of dislike and trickery while disguised. Sir Toby, for example, tricks Sir Andrew into challenging Cesario to a duel in order to gain Olivia’s affection. Sir Andrew’s duel with Cesario for Olivia is a ridiculous act, and Viola tries to decline. When she fails to avoid the duel, she is tricked further by Sir Toby and Feste, who work to convince both Viola and Sir Andrew of the other’s prowess in dueling, when in reality, both Viola and Sir Andrew are inept duelers. Viola and Sir Andrew reluctantly show up to the duel, both feeling an irrational fear of each other’s skills due to Sir Toby’s and Feste’s trickery.
Viola’s disguise also inadvertently causes Antonio, a sea captain, to be arrested. Antonio, who is the savior and friend of Sebastian, sees Viola in disguise and believes she is Sebastian. He sees that Viola is about to duel Sir Andrew and tries to protect her from the duel. Antonio is then arrested by Orsino’s men, and he asks Viola for money, thinking that she is Sebastian. However, Viola does not know Antonio, and her refusal and claim of not recognizing him makes Antonio believe he has been betrayed by Sebastian.
Viola and the Irrationality of Love
The revelry of love is a primary theme in Twelfth Night. Viola is in the midst of much amorous wildness, with Duke Orsino’s excessive pining and Lady Olivia’s quick infatuation with Cesario. Even Viola finds that she is falling in love with Duke Orsino, despite her precarious situation.
Lady Olivia’s declaration of love for Cesario shows love’s irrationality, especially given her quick turnaround from grieving to infatuation. When Lady Olivia meets Cesario, she drops all pretenses of mourning and tries to court Cesario. Viola highlights Olivia’s rashness in a soliloquy, claiming that women are susceptible to falling in love with deceitful men: “How easy it is for the proper false / In women’s waxen hearts to set their form!” For the audience, Lady Olivia’s irrational love for Cesario is an example of dramatic irony. The audience knows that Cesario is Viola, a woman in disguise, while Olivia is blissfully unaware and infatuated with a person who, in a sense, doesn’t exist. With Lady Olivia’s advances, Viola finds herself unwillingly placed in an insensible love triangle. While reflecting on her powerlessness in love and relationships, Viola claims, “O Time, thou must untangle this, not I.”
Viola as Viola
At the end of play, Viola is reunited with Sebastian. After making sure he is truly her twin, she then reveals that she is a young woman in disguise. Viola then expresses her love to Duke Orsino, who agrees to marry her, despite having been supposedly in love with Olivia for the majority of the play. The lovesick characters are all married, putting an end to the romantic and duplicitous madness of Twelfth Night.
Expert Q&A
Why does Viola/Cesario's pity encourage Olivia in Twelfth Night?
Viola/Cesario's pity encourages Olivia in Twelfth Night because Olivia interprets it as a step toward love. Olivia believes that showing pity is an indication of emotional connection, which she hopes will grow into deeper affection. Although Viola argues that pity does not equate to love, Olivia remains encouraged by the compassion shown.
In Twelfth Night, who is Viola's twin brother?
Viola's twin brother in Twelfth Night is Sebastian. Initially, Viola believes Sebastian drowned in a shipwreck, prompting her to disguise herself as a male named Cesario to work for Duke Orsino. However, Sebastian also survives and arrives in Illyria, leading to mistaken identities due to their striking resemblance. The twins are eventually reunited in Act 5, resolving the play's complex love triangle.
What does Viola mean when she says, "The poor lady might as well love a dream"?
Viola states that "the poor lady might as well love a dream" because Olivia falls in love with her while she is disguised as a man, making Olivia's love seem hopeless. This reflects Viola's own unrequited love for Orsino, which she cannot reveal, making her love also feel like a dream. Additionally, the arrival of Viola's brother, whom Olivia can love, suggests that what seems impossible might actually come true, like a dream.
In what ways is the character Viola in Twelfth Night loyal?
How difficult is it for Cesario (Viola) to see Olivia in Twelfth Night?
It is not difficult for Cesario (Viola) to get to see Olivia, because Olivia falls in love with her, thinking she is male.
What are the positive and negative traits of Viola in Twelfth Night?
Viola in Twelfth Night is characterized by positive traits such as sound judgment, honesty, loyalty, intelligence, charm, and emotional stability. These qualities help her navigate complex situations and earn the trust and affection of others. However, her judgment and intelligence falter in matters of the heart, as she falls for the emotionally unstable Duke, highlighting a blind spot in her otherwise admirable character.
Does Viola in Twelfth Night have a mother? What is her name?
In Twelfth Night, Viola's mother is not mentioned, and there is no record of her name or presence in the play. While Viola and her brother Sebastian speak of their father, who shared the same name as Sebastian, their mother is notably absent from the dialogue. This omission is consistent with several of Shakespeare's works, where mothers are often unnamed or unmentioned characters.
How does Viola prove her identity to her brother Sebastian in Twelfth Night?
In Twelfth Night, Viola aims to prove to Sebastian that she is his sister by putting on her women's clothes once more. They are in the safekeeping of the captain of the ship on which the twins were shipwrecked. The problem is that the captain is being held prisoner by Malvolio.
What are Viola's interests and hobbies in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night?
In Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night," Viola's interests and hobbies are not explicitly detailed. Initially focused on survival after a shipwreck, she seeks employment with Count Orsino, whom she grows to love. Her primary activities revolve around serving Orsino, including sword fighting and wooing on his behalf. Viola's actions suggest her interests are largely dictated by necessity and circumstance rather than personal hobbies or leisure pursuits.
Why can't Viola get a job in Olivia's house in Twelfth Night?
Viola cannot get a job serving in Olivia's house because Olivia, in deep mourning and depression, will not see anyone other than members of her household. She will not admit strangers.
What does Viola imply when she says, "My father had a daughter who loved a man" in Twelfth Night?
When Viola says "My father had a daughter loved a man" in Twelfth Night, she's getting as close as she can to expressing her love for Duke Orsino without giving away her true identity. Although she's disguised as a man, her words are those of a woman—a woman in love.
How does Viola react to Orsino's claim about women's capacity for love?
Viola responds to Orsino's claim about women's capacity for love in Act II, Scene 4, by asserting that women can love as deeply as men. She uses a hypothetical example, referring to her "father's daughter," to illustrate her point while subtly hinting at her own love for Orsino. Through this, Viola argues for the equality of women's love and indirectly expresses her feelings for Orsino.
Viola and Feste's Relationship and Similarities in Twelfth Night
In Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, Viola and Feste share a unique relationship characterized by intellectual wit and mutual respect. Both characters, through their outsider roles—Viola as a disguised woman and Feste as a fool—enjoy freedom of speech and provide critical insights into societal norms. Their shared ability to navigate between Olivia's and Orsino's households, coupled with their humor and wisdom, positions them as intermediaries and commentators on the play's events. Their camaraderie is rooted in their verbal dexterity and understanding of the complexities of human nature.
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