Twelfth Night explores the nature of love by reflecting primarily on what love is not. Although the play contains numerous expressions of love and desire, many of these expressions appear to arise from infatuation rather than from genuine love. Duke Orsino claims to be passionately in love with Olivia. He sighs and moans and sends Viola to woo her, yet he never once considers Olivia’s opinion on the matter. He does not respect Olivia’s choice to mourn for her brother. He continues to push and insist, to plead and complain. The Duke’s actions can be viewed as more about lust, control, and self-gratification than true love that respects the beloved and wills the best for her.

Olivia, too, declares that she is in love—not with the Duke but with his young messenger, Cesario, who is really Viola in disguise. Olivia, however, fails to notice that her beloved is actually a woman, even though Viola drops several hints that she is not who she seems to be. In a sense, Olivia imitates the Duke in disregarding Viola’s position. Viola is clear that her heart will never belong to Olivia, but Olivia does not seem to care. She pursues the relationship anyway, focusing on her own feelings rather than the desires of her beloved.

Furthermore, Olivia is so caught up in her infatuation that she does not even realize that she mistakes Sebastian for Cesario. Certainly the two look alike in most respects, but the confusion suggests a lack of genuine attentiveness on Olivia’s part. She would recognize his mannerisms, habits of speech, and character traits. She would distinguish the tone of his voice and his typical posture and gestures. Olivia simply does not know Cesario well enough to catch all those little indications that would have told her that Sebastian was not her “beloved.”

Sebastian, for his part, knows nothing at all about Olivia, yet he claims to love her. He is not even sure that she is sane after she unexpectedly brings him into her house and then to the altar for their betrothal ceremony. Yet Sebastian fails to ask what is going on and follows meekly. He is arguably not in love but rather completely infatuated by the attentions of a beautiful woman.

Finally, Viola says she is in love with the Duke, and her feelings are arguably the deepest of all the characters. She remains faithful to him even though he showers his attention and passion on another woman. She even serves as his messenger, putting his desires before her own. She works to protect his honor and trust, faithfully relaying his pleas of love to Olivia and her responses to him instead of trying to sabotage the affair. She gently debates with him about the nature of love and the strength and constancy of a woman’s love. In these exchanges, she is speaking of herself and her own feelings, even though the Duke fails to understand. Indeed, Viola may be the only character who is truly in love.