Twelfth Night

2 Pages 590 Words

In "Twelfth Night" William Shakespeare has many relationships that grow all through the play. The most important relationship of these is that of Viola and Orsino. The interaction these characters have is the reason for the complicated conflicts of the play. As the conflict unfolds throughout the play the two characters become friends and lovers rather than the strangers they started as.
In the first Act Viola and Orsino's are two complete strangers. In order to get close to Orsino, Viola isn’t honest with him from the beginning and disguises herself as a male page known as Cesario. Because of this, Orsino trust Viola and ends up sending “Cesario” to announce his love for Olivia. “O, then unfold the passion of my love. / Surprise her with discourse of my faith.” (Act I, 5, 36-27) The fact that Orsino was able to trust Cesario so quickly is the first example of their relationship growing. This growth is proof of their relationship going from stranger to friend. “He hath known u but three days, and already you are no stranger.” (Act I, 5, 2-4)
In the second act, their relationship begins a new phase. Olivia falls in love with Cesario, which leaves Viola in a predicament between Orsino and Olivia. “As I am a man, my state is desperate for my master’s love. As I am a woman, (now alas the day!), What thriftless sighs shall poor Olivia breathe!” (Act 2, 3, 36-39) Viola is now entangled in a love triangle, yet is able to hide it from Orsino. This triangle becomes part of Viola and Orsino’s relationship in the play. In the fourth scene of act 2, there is an important element in the relationship of Viola and Orsino. Viola is able to blind Orsino’s attention on Olivia by telling him a story of love from Cesario’s sister.
With her own interest in mind, Viola asks Orsino if he could love another woman if she loved him as much as he loves Olivia. . "Sooth, but you must. Say that some lady as perhaps there is, hath fo...