| TWELFTH NIGHTViolaThis passage can be written about in multiple ways: It can be compared to how Rosalind refers to women in As You Like It and Celia reminds her that she’s still a woman, it can be compared to what Orsino says later about women when Viola almost reveals herself, or it can be used to talk about meta theatrics and how a boy playing a girl playing a boy had to deliver this scene, and how disguises are a common theme in the play. | “I left no ring with her: what means this lady?Fortune forbid my outside have not charmed her!She made good view of me, indeed so muchThat, methought, her eyes had lost her tongue,For she did speak in starts distractedly.She loves me sure; the cunning of her passionInvites me in this churlish messenger.None of my lord’s ring? Why, he sent her none;I am the man; if it be so, as ’tis,Poor lady, she were better love a dream.Disguise, I see thou art a wickedness,Wherein the pregnant enemy does much.How easy is it for the proper-falseIn women’s waxen hearts to set their forms!Alas, our fragility is the cause, not we,For such we are made of, such we be.How will this fadge? My master loves her dearly,And I (poor monster) fond as much on himAs she (mistaken) seems to dote on me.What will become of this? As I am man,My state is desperate for my master’s love;As I am woman— now alas the day!—What thriftless sighs shall poor Olivia breathe?O time, thou must untangle this, not I;It is too hard a knot for me t’untie. |
| TWELFTH NIGHTViolaThis passage from Twelfth Night would be exam worthy because in it Viola, disguised as Cesario, is explaining how she would woo Olivia on her master Orsino’s behalf. Her wooing style differs greatly from that of Orsino. Orsino always just send someone to do his wooing for him, hence Viola’s being there, but Viola explains that she would never leave. She goes so far as to claim she may drive Olivia crazy with her love! A good theme to talk about here is the difference between love and lust between the characters. | “Make me a willow cabin at your gate,And call upon my soul within the house;Write loyal cantons of contemned loveAnd sing them loud even in the dead of night;Halloo your name to the reverberate hillsAnd make the babbling gossip of the airCry out ‘Olivia!’ O, You should not restBetween the elements of air and earth,But you should pity me!” |
| TWELFTH NIGHTOliviaI chose this quote because I like that Olivia is rhyming and I like the meaning behind the quote. My favorite line is the last one. Olivia is announcing her love to the disguised Viola and explaining that a murderer could hide their guilt better than a person in love can hide passion. This quote should be on the exam because it embodies the emotions one feels while deep in love, or what they think is love. | O, what a deal of scorn looks beautifulIn the contempt and *anger of his lip!A murderous guilt shows not itself more soonThan love that would seem hid: love’s night is noon.Cesario, by the roses of the spring,By maidhood, honour, truth and every thing,I love thee so, that, maugre all thy pride,Nor wit nor reason can my passion hide.Do not extort thy reasons from this clause,For that I woo, thou therefore hast no cause,But rather reason thus with reason fetter,Love sought is good, but given unsought better |
| TWELFTH NIGHTOrsinoThis speech is powerful, Orsino is very vulnerable and exposes his emotion of insecurity, anger. He feels insecure from Olivia’s rejection, anger from his feelings being hurt, overall just livid from his rejection. He uses Cesario to “get back” at Olivia because, he knows that she loves him, and if he isn’t happy, he doesn’t want anyone else to be. His anguish allows the audience to see his true obsession and then his devotion to her disappear, and he becomes vindictive. There are many different interpretations of this speech because Olivia, Cesario/Viola and Orsino are all together which makes for an interesting exchange. | Why should I not—had I had the heart to do it—Like to th’ Egyptian thief at the point of deathKill what I love—a savage jealousyThat sometimes savours nobly? But hear me this.Since you to non-regardance cast my faith,And that I partly know the instrumentThat screws me from my true place in your favor,Live you the marble breasted tyrant still.But this your minion, whom I know you love,And whom, by heaven I swear, I tenderly dearly.Him will I tear out of that cruel eyeWhere he sits crowned in his masters spite.Come, boy, with me; my thoughts are ripe in mischief.I’ll sacrifice the lamb that I do love,To spite a ravens heart within a dove. |
TWELFTH NIGHT (FINAL)
July 22, 2019