Olivia Twelfth Night

1699 Words7 Pages
In Act One of ‘Twelfth Night’, Shakespeare introduces three of the protagonists. Lady Olivia, presented as a veiled cloistress who is grief stricken, is mocked for her choice of connections with Feste, a quick witted fool who is portrayed in contrast to his actions. Shakespeare also presents to us, Viola, first as a beautiful, young madam and then as a loyal eunuch; she adds a sense of mistaken identity to the play and emphasises the dramatic irony created. Shakespeare utilises an assortment of techniques that help distinguish between characteristics and personalities of characters within ‘Twelfth Night’. Olivia is presented as a very changeable character, throughout act one of ‘Twelfth Night’. On many occasions, Olivia never seems to have…show more content…
Upon Olivia, calling Feste a fool, he is quick to respond suggesting he is also quite conscious. Feste explains how he does not ‘wear motley in [his] brain’. Feste intends to inform Olivia that he may be wearing silly clothes, but his foolishness is only skin deep. The multi-coloured clothes represent chaos and disorder, however, Feste outlines his brain as the opposite; calm and in equilibrium. Feste’s claim is from the heart, suggesting that he feels strongly against being called a fool. Here, Shakespeare uses contrast to emphasise the intelligence of one character and the foolishness of the other. Olivia wears clothes of intelligence, but carries motley in her brain. Whilst, Feste wears clothes of motley, but carries intelligence in his brain. Furthermore, Shakespeare also hints at the reality that is life, and its basis around money and authority. Feste is intelligent, but has to work as a jester, and Olivia is foolish, but is a Countess. In ‘Twelfth Night’, Feste likes the idea of intelligent fools. Feste believes that ‘those who are fools’, should ‘use their talents’. This suggests that Feste believes himself to be naturally gifted as opposed to acquiring skill, implying that Feste is also a little big-headed. He insults others intelligence by calling it almost fake, because it has been acquired. This outlines that Feste has deeper meaning behind what he says and the way in which he…show more content…
Viola’s intelligence is displayed when she wins the heart of Olivia for Orsino. Upon being asked by Olivia, what she would do, to win the heart of a countess, Viola extensively lists sweet phrases, resulting in her flattering Olivia. Viola describes how she would build ‘a willow cabin’ at the gate and write ‘loyal cantons of contemned love’. Viola has not taken ‘great care’ to ‘study’ these words, and therefore they suggest her intelligence. The fact that she can propose beautiful, flattering verses out of thin air implies that she is not only smart, but also creative. Furthermore, Viola’s intelligence is also portrayed, when in Act 2 scene 1, she lies to Malvolio about her giving the ring to Olivia. This suggests that Viola understands the love triangle, and also that she is bright in the way that she manipulates the situation. Viola acts as though she has nothing to do with the ring in front of Malvolio, because she is scared that her ‘outside may have … charm’d’ Olivia. Throughout the first chapter, Viola is also portrayed as romantic. Her desire for a relationship with Orsino confirms this. Orsino ‘was a bachelor then’, describes Viola, suggesting that she wants to establish an emotional connection with Orsino. In addition, Viola’s deliverance of love poetry suggests that she is passionate about love, and not just the concept of it. Here, Shakespeare uses poetical language to symbolise the love and romance expressed
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