Romance And Gender Positions In Twelfth Night

Shakespeares Twelfth Night examines patterns of love and courtship through a twisting of gender roles. In Act 3, scene 1, Olivia displays the wateriness created for both characters and audience as she takes on the traditionally priapic role of wooer in an attempt to win the overcompensate Viola, or Cesario. Olivia praises Cesarios beauty and then addresses him playfulnessh the belief that his scorn (3.1.134) curious reveals his hidden love. However, Olivias mistaken interpretation of Cesarios manner is only the aerofoil problem presented by her speech. The reality of Cesarios gender, the active role Olivia takes in pursuing him/her, and the duality of word meanings in this passage evade to turn the traditional patriarchal concept of courtship heyday down, or as Olivia says turn night to noon (139). by luck the biggest upset to the traditional structure is the possibility that Olivia may be in love railleryh a woman. Shakespeare allows his audience to excuse this by having Olivia be unaware that Cesario is actually female. Yet, Olivias attraction seems to stem precious from the more feminine characteristics like Cesarios beautiful scorn and gaga lip (136-137).

Olivias words allow an audience, particularly a new one, to perhaps read her as suspecting or even intentional that Cesario is female, yet choosing to love him/her anyway. Olivias description of Cesarios beauty, both here and upon their prime(a) encounter, praises typically feminine qualities, but curiously doesnt question Cesarios gender. The likeness of love to guilt tempts the readers mind to wonder if Olivia is guilty finish out her love for such female attributes. Olivias oa th on maidenhood also tempts the reader tow! ard a lesbian reading by hinting that Cesario would also understand maidenhood (141). When Olivia declares that not even wit nor reason(143) can hide her passion, she suggests that she would love Cesario even if it were against logic, as a same sex couple would be. Despite the unacceptability of...If you want to get a full essay, order it on our website: OrderEssay.net

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