12th Night

Viola in the first scene of the poem is washed up on the shore of Illyria. She attempts to find her lost brother who she think may be dead. Encountering a captain and some sailors, they tell her about Orsino. Viola intrigued to learn more about Orsino asks about Olivia. Viola seems to be more concerned about her social rank when she asks, “what’s she?”(Shakespeare 31). Viola then decides to serve the duke,“Till I had made mine own occasion mellow, What my estate is” (Shakespeare 38). She then goes by Cesario and dresses up as a man.

Duke Orsino comes to trust Cesario and as a reader you see significance in class and rank is valued by the characters. “If the Duke continue these favors toward you, Cesario, you are like to be much advanced” (Shakespeare 1.4 5). Hoping to win his love with Olivia, he sends Cesario to talk to her. Viola plays Cesario, a man like it is nothing. When speaking with Olivia, Viola speaks in uses her words in a sarcastic way. Olivia not understanding who this guy is asks, “are you a comedian?” (Shakespeare 174).

Viola’s relationships with the characters at the beginning of the poem are not very strong. She uses money to pay the captain at the opening scene, so she can get information. And she tells him that she will give him more money if he is too help. She starts off pretending to be some one else, and that is not the most solid base to start relationships with. She is very concerned with appearance and rank. Also when she is sent to talk to Olivia, Cesario talks about if he did love her, “Make me a willow cabin at your gate and call upon my soul within the house” (Shakespeare 255). I feel as if Viola is going to dig herself in a whole which will at some point be very difficult to get out of.

Works Cited

Shakespeare, William.