FREE ESSAY ON VIOLA/CERARIO

VIOLA/CERARIO

THE CHANGING ROLE IN VIOLA/CESARIO IN THE TWELFTH NIGHT
In Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, it is clearly evident that the
fluctuation in attitude to the dual role and situation and tribulations
imposed upon the character of Viola/Cesario ends up in a better
understanding of both sexes, and thus, allows Viola to have a better
understanding for Orsino. Near the opening of the play, when Viola is
adopting her male identity, she creates another self, like two masks and
may decide to wear one or the other while swinging between the two
identities in emotion and in character. She decides to take on this
identity because she has more freedom in society in her Cesario mask, which
is evident when she is readily accepted by Orsino, whereas, in her female
identity she would not be. Thus, a customary role in society and to the
outlooks of others is portrayed.
Orsino sees Cesario, as a young squire just starting out in the world,
much like himself as a young, spry lad, so he has a tendency to be more
willing to unload onto her with his troubles and sorrows, seeking a
companion with which to share and to teach. Thus, Viola grows in her male
disguise to get a better feeling for his inner self, not the self that he
shows to the public, or would reveal and share with Viola in her true
female self, but rather his secret self, as he believes he shares with a
peer. So, she grows to love him. But, Orsino's motivation is actually not
love for Viola, but rather he seems to be in love with love itself. His
entire world is filled with love but he knows that there might be a turning
point for him, like when he says:
If music be the food of love, play on; give me
excess of it, that, surfeiting, the appetite may
sicken, and so die. 1. (I,I,I-III)
This quote shows that he knows that he is so caught up in love, that he
hopes his appetite for love may simmer when he takes more than he can
handle.
1. Shakespeare, William. Twelfth Night. Longman's Canada Limited, Don
Mills, Ontario, 1961. All subsequent quotes are from this edition.
Near the end of the play, when all tricks and treacheries are revealed
and all masks are lifted, Orsino falls in love with Viola. He first
forgives her/him of her/his duty to him, the master; then says that she
shall now be her master's mistress:
Your master quits you; and for your service
done him, so much against the mettle of your
sex, so far beneath your soft and tender
breeding, and since you call'd me master for
so long, here is my hand. You shall from
this time be your master's mistress. (V,I,322-327)
This is sort of a switching love as he thought he was in love with Olivia
in the beginning, but, he readily switches his love to Viola, as he feels
he knows her personality well.
As for Viola, she declares her love for Orsino many times, as if by
saying that she would love him if she were a lady. When Orsino first sends
Cesario to act as a messenger and send Orsino's love to Olivia, Cesario
proclaims:
I'll do my best to woo your lady; [aside] 
yet, a barful strife! Whoe'er I woo,
myself would be his wife. (I,IV, 40-42)
This shows that Viola knows what a difficult situation that she is in, and
that she might try to woo her out of loving Orsino, so that she might have
him for herself; except there is a slight, unexpected twist of fate...
After Cesario leaves from Olivia's, she declares:
What is your parentage? Above my fortunes, 
yet my state is well; I am a gentleman. I'll
be sworn thou art. Thy tongue, thy face, thy 
limbs, and spirit, do give thee five-fold blazon.
Not too fast: soft, soft! Unless the master were
the man. How now! Even so quickly may one catch
the plague? Methinks I feel this youth's per-
fections with an invisible and subtle stealth to
creep in at mine eyes. Well, let it be. What 
ho, Malvolio! (I,V, 289-298)
Olivia, is thinking back to her question to Cesario, and his response to
it. Then she replies to Cesario's response, to herself, thinking about
him. She agrees with his response, then goes over his many delightful
features, and wonders how she so quickly has caught the plague of love for
young Cesario. She decides that it is her feeling towards his youthful
perfections that creep into her heart and to her eyes. Then she agrees
with her decision, and sends for Malvolio, in hope that he may recall
Cesario, so that she may talk with him again. Olivia feels a strong
passionate love for Cesario, even though it was love at first sight for
her. Cesario presented (himself) very magnificently and left a lasting
impression in Olivia's mind.
The next time that Cesario came by, Olivia declared:
Cesario, by the roses of the spring, by maid-
hood, honour, truth and everything, I love 
thee so, that, maugre all thy pride, nor wit
nor reason can my passion hide. (III,I,145-148)
This verifies that Olivia is profoundly in love with Cesario, despite all
his pride. But, Cesario does not possess the same sentiments for Olivia as
he says:
By innocence I swear, and by my youth, I have 
one heart, one bosom and one truth, And that
no woman has; nor never none shall mistress 
be of it, save I alone. And so adieu, good 
madam. (III,I,153-157)
Here, Viola tells Olivia that she could never love her, nor any other woman
because she only has one love (to Orsino) and is loyal. But, Olivia is
still in love, and requests that Cesario return.
Overall, Viola learns that in the role of Cesario she had to be quick
on her feet, and defend the probing questions and statements as to her love
and others love for her. As well she acquired the skill to bide her time,
until the time was right, lest she reveal her true self or intentions.