why does viola disguise herself as a man

Marias letter is very detailed and convincing, making it possible for Malvolio to believe the declaration of love. She was soon discovered by the Greek warrior Palamedes, and as punishment was stoned to death. Subscribe now. She needs the help of the Captain to get a job in Orsinos house. She sends Malvolio to give Cesario a ring that she says he left (Cesario did not leave anything behind) and admits that she is in love with Cesario, Sebastian, Violas twin brother who survived the shipwreck. The only problem aside Why does Viola not become a servant for Olivia? What do Feste and Fabian bring in from Malvolio? Sir Toby sees this as an opportunity to take the horse for himself, saying in an aside: Ill ride your horse as well as I ride you (3:4) which suggests he is consciously using Sir Andrew for his own gain and enjoying it. WebViola was disguised as a man, with the name of Cesario: Family: Sebastian (twin brother) and decides to take Viola as his wife once she quits her disguise. In a similar way, Violas brother would have inherited the family wealth when their father died and would have acted as Violas guardian and protector. This makes for a hilarious scene because of the use of dramatic irony after Sir Andrew and She realises how much she loves Orsino and beneath the disguise finds the freedom to share her feelings as if she/he is talking about his/her sister. In Shakespeares time, a woman of Olivias social status would have been expected to marry to form the right alliances rather than for love. It doesnt matter if you agree or not, as long as you can back it up! WebViola's disguise as Orsino's page, Cesario, becomes crucial to the action in the play. She is in a similar situation to Olivia and perhaps this is why she tells the Captain O, that I served that lady when she hears about Olivias situation. Act 2 Scene 2: Why do you think Viola lies to Malvolio about the ring? It doesnt matter if you agree or not, as long as you can back it up! Free trial is available to new customers only. Cookies, The RSC is a registered charity (no. Privacy | The doctor, however, did not reveal her secret and she received an honorary discharge later the same year. He apologizes for beating up Sir Andrew and is happy to see Antonio. She does this because she has been shipwrecked on the coast of Illyria and believes that her twin brother Sebastian, whom she believes is dead, was also on the ship. The play follows Viola, a woman who washes up on the shores of Illyria after surviving a shipwreck. She puts on a Do his insults suggest a change of attitude? She eventually revealed her true identity but still managed to receive an honorary discharge and her pension. Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. It seems like Antonios love for Sebastian is very strong. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. Because the Duke thinks thats Cesario is is young, handsome, and beautiful (feminine features) and will impress Olivia with his attractiveness. William Shakespeare and Twelfth Night Background. WebIts complicated, as Shakespeare exploits the comedy of the plays twists and confusions. $18.74/subscription + tax, Save 25% Contact us It also provides a comedic effect when she falls in love with the Duke. She is pretending to be a young man named Cesario in order to be employed by Orsino. Continue to start your free trial. WebThe Chinese emperor ordered that one man from each family must join the army. That she hid them with a captain who now works for Malvolio. Some scholars point to this line as evidence that Orsino is enamored more by the disguise than by Viola herself. What does Malvolio do after being brought in by Olivia? Act 1 Scene 5: Olivia tells 'Cesario' that she agreed to see him rather to wonder at you than to hear you. Since, Sebastian is much stronger than the feeble old men, he injures them. What is the response of Sir Toby, Sir Andrew, and Feste? Refine any search. Looking at the following scenes might also help to collect evidence: You can explore Viola's language further in the Language Analysis section. Sarah Edmonds (18411898) was born in Canada and later moved to America. Para nosotros usted es lo ms importante, le ofrecemosservicios rpidos y de calidad. It tells of a young woman who dresses as a man to enlist as a soldier. For a joke To find work To woo Olivia To avoid violence 3 of 5. Who is trying to court Olivia at the beginning of the play? Everyone is astonished. She studied philosophy and adult education at The University of Glasgow and worked in teaching and administration before becoming a full time writer. Why does Sir Toby say that Sir Andrew will be a good match for Sir Olivia? Sebastian is related to Viola. Looking at the following scenes might also help to collect evidence: If you are interested in looking at the staging of the gulling scene, in which Malvolio receives the letter in Act 2 Scene 5, you can explore it further in the Key Scenes section. He thinks that Viola died in the shipwreck and since their father is dead, he has no family left. What does Malvolio say when he finds the men drunk at night? The letter that he wrote proving that he only did what the letter said. for a customized plan. Sir Toby is a drunk and is not really aware of what he is doing. At the centre of it all is disguise, in itself a theatrical idea, with a focus on costume and appearance. Per.6 Characters Why does Viola disguise herself as a man? They draw their swords to fight, but are interrupted by Antonios entrance. As Orsino is leaving, Sir Andrew enters, bleeding and calling for a surgeon. Which lines or phrases are most useful in helping you decide? The first time we meet Sir Toby, Maria tells him that Olivia is tired of his drunken antics and is not impressed by the foolish knight Sir Toby has invited to stay. The way the content is organized. She enters the house because of Violas cleverness. She disguises herself as a boy, gives herself the name Cesario and finds employment with Duke Orsino, the wealthy young ruler of Illyria. At that time, all families had to send one male to join the Chinese army. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. For the next 7 days, you'll have access to awesome PLUS stuff like AP English test prep, No Fear Shakespeare translations and audio, a note-taking tool, personalized dashboard, & much more! She wants to keep alive the memory of her brother and has deliberately dressed to look like him. It doesnt matter if you agree or not, as long as you can back it up! However, it could have been for a variety of reasons. Afraid that her identity would be revealed, she went to a private clinic instead of the military hospital. sea. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. By dressing his protagonist in male garments, Shakespeare creates ongoing sexual confusion with characters, which include Olivia, Viola and Orsino, who create a love triangle between them. She is washed up on a beach in Illyria after losing her twin brother in a shipwreck. What does the Captain tell Viola about her brother, Sebastian? He is very well-favored and he speaks very shrewishly; one would think his mother's milk were scarce out of him. He is vain and self-important, making it easy for him to imagine his mistress falling in love with him. What does Olivia do when Cesario delivers the love speech from the Duke? Please either update your browser to the newest version, or choose an alternative browser visit. She gets a page at the court of the noble duke, Orsino, with the help of this disguise. What does Antonio want to do with Sebastian? In addition to making the play less interesting, the disguise is also necessary to develop the She doesnt know who Antonio is. We know that Viola has a twin brother named Sebastian who she thinks drowned in the wreck she survived. Unusually, she worked as a painter in Italy. She says that he is acting like a complete fool because he is following what was written in the letter. Because Sebastian fears his journey will be dangerous and he intends to go to the Dukes home. WebTwelfth Night Study Guide Student Name: The Hilarity of Mistaken Identity When aristocratic-born Viola is shipwrecked off the shores of Illyria, she disguises herself as a man named Cesario to earn a position in Duke Orsinos household. Viola suggests she would like to hide after her trauma until she is ready to face the world again. Act 2 Scene 4: Look through Violas dialogue about love with Orsino. Sir Toby enjoys laughing at others and finds Sir Andrews gullibility entertaining. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". She can prove her identity by taking them to the home of a sea captain who knows of her disguise and is keeping her womens clothes for her. She dressed as a man to make travel easier as she was escaping an arranged marriage. It is unclear why Viola pretended to be Cesario. By saying that Olivia will not marry above her degree, neither in estate, years, not wit. Feste comes to sing his song and the conversation is stopped. The easy answer is that Shakespeare always uses people in disguise to complicate his plots (Peck and Coyle-93). What does Feste do to not be kicked out of the house? We're sorry, SparkNotes Plus isn't available in your country. Purchasing What does the Duke tell Cesario about loving someone? She is very confused after he was arrested. The truth was only revealed after her death as her body was prepared for burial. Why did Antonio accuse him of insubordinateness? She loves her master Orsino, who loves Olivia, who in turn loves Viola thinking she is a man. Violas disguise allows her to win Orsinos love because she is smart. She was orphaned at the age of 10 and joined the crew of a frigate posing as a boy. Act 1 Scene 3: Look through this scene noting what Sir Toby says to Maria about Sir Andrew and what he says to Sir Andrew. 2023 The boy playing the role can be convincing as a male if he presents himself as a male. Cesario makes an impression onOlivia in the fifth scene. I do not now fool myself, to let imagination jade me, for every reason excites to this, that my lady loves me (Malvolio, 2:5). Act 1 Scene 5: Olivia tells 'Cesario' that she agreed to see him rather to wonder at you than to hear you. Who is the character that works at both households during the play ? Sir Toby thinks Sir Andrew is a good match for his niece because he is rich and accomplished in music and languages, but Maria doesnt care because she thinks Sir Andrew is a fool. Violas disguise allows her to win Orsinos love because she is smart. Why do you think Viola has so closely imitated her brother in her dress and behaviour? Your subscription will continue automatically once the free trial period is over. It is clear from the beginning of Act 2 Scene 5 that Malvolio already dreams of marrying Olivia, even before he reads Marias letter. Twelfth Night refers to the twelfth night of Christmas, also known as the eve of Epiphany, a day that commemorates the visit of the Magi to the baby Jesus and is often celebrated with a suspension of rules and social orders. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. There is also a suggestion here that she is in a vulnerable position before she can access the family wealth that will give her more independence. The small love triangle involving the two of them and Orsino is similar to the one between the two of them andOlivia. In this video, Nick Day suggests that Sir Toby is a flawed human being who is dependent on Sir Andrew for defining his purpose in life. The first known example from America was Deborah Sampson. Malvolio was diagnosed as insane after wooingOlivia. How Does Viola React To AntonioS Questions? It doesnt matter if you agree or not, as long as you can back it up! Although Epipole is a mythological figure, her story may be based on a true or typical event. What is Antonios situation with people working for the Duke and why does he follow Sebastian? LitCharts Teacher Editions. Maria makes it clear later in this scene that Olivia hates yellow and cross-gartered is a fashion she detests. When she promises to pay him well, the captain agrees to help 20% She delivers the Dukes love letters verbally having memorized them. Orsino said that Viola/Cesario had terrible taste in lines 30 to 40 and that she was like Orsino in age and appearance. What do Cesario and the Duke discuss in his house? What does Olivia do after Cesario has left? Maria cleverly uses this detail to convince Malvolio the letter truly expresses Olivias feelings. She was commissioned as a Hospital Assistant in the British Army on July 6, 1812, and went on to become a notable army surgeon. (A) She puts on makeup to make herself resemble an old woman (B) She dresses like a man (C) She shaves her head and wears a false beard (D) She does not disguise herself 8. That he saw Sebastian trying to stay afloat on a mast and might still be alive ddespite what Viola thinks. Antonio found Sebastian and took him into his home. He claims that once Viola has shed her disguise, she will be the queen of his love. In the play, there are two siblings who are separated from each other. You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes.