TWELFTH NIGHT ACT I QUESTIONS1) I know she sort of touches on it later on in the Act, but why exactly does Olivia not want to be in a relationship with Orsino? Is it just because she isn't attracted to him, or is there a deeper reason?
2) Viola disguised as Cesario/Viola is the only attendant of Orsino's that Olivia has allowed into her house. Why? Is it just because there's something about him/her that she likes?
3) What's the purpose of Feste in the play? Is it just comic relief or does his character reveal the truth about each of the other characters?
4) When Olivia allows Orsino's attendant to come and speak to her, why does she hide at first underneath her veil? It seems later on that it doesn't take much for her to reveal her identity, so why hide it in the first place?
5) Olivia changes her responses to Cesario/Viola as the conversation goes on . At first she's short and impatient, and later she's sort of playing with her words in her responses to her visitor. Is this just because she's attracted to him/her or because she just wants to have a little bit of fun for the first time since her brother died?
6) What exactly is Viola's background? She seems to have a lot of money. Is she royalty?
Question 1
ReplyDeleteAfter discussing this in class we found out that Olivia didn't really want to be in a relationship with Orsino mostly because at that time she was just annoyed. Orsino, along with Andrew, and Malvolio were in love with her, which was the cause of her frustration. Olivia was just feeling really pressured. Another reason why she didn't want to have a relationship with Orsino was because she didn't know him well.
2. She was bored and wanted to have some fun. She knows that Orsino continues to pursue her and because he sent someone else she decided to play around. 7 years is a long time in her house so she needs something to keep her occupied. And of course she had to or she would have never met Viola. I.5.145 (in my book) is where she becomes interested in him because he will not go away.
ReplyDelete4. I think this is because Viola is an attendant of Orsino, who is a duke. Respect needs to be shown for him so that is probably what any women would do, but then when they start bantering, she takes it off. It can also be because she is in morning of her bother still.
I.5.159-160 "Give me my veil. Come throw it o'er my face./ We'll once more hear Orsino's embassy."
5. I think it is because she is playing with him and likes him. He keeps telling her that he has a speech to recite to her and she then starts asking him other questions to see how long he can go without forgetting/breaking. I.5.184-210
1) I know she sort of touches on it later on in the Act, but why exactly does Olivia not want to be in a relationship with Orsino? Is it just because she isn't attracted to him, or is there a deeper reason
ReplyDeleteI.i.35: "To pay this debt of love but to a brother, How will she love when the rich golden shaft, Hath killed the flock of all affections else, That live in her..."
She lost her brother and is so upset about his death she wants nothing to do with any men. She is also probably scared because she lost a male protector.
3) Olivia has become bored and as we learn I.iv.160 Viola refuses to go away until she speaks to Lady Olivia. She hears that this is a different messager and thought she would have a little fun.
ReplyDelete5) When Olivia first lets Viola in she is unaware of who he/she is and is just trying to discover and understand this new visitor. But we learn later after Viola leaves in I.v.289-299 when she sends him the ring that she is very intrigued and interested in this young man. Her speech gets longer because she is now trying to impress and learn more about Viola.