Viola wants to serve Olivia because she believes she can keep her identity private if she serves her. She decided to cut her hair and change her appearance to that of her brother’s in order to look like a boy and be able to serve.

Why did Viola work for Olivia?

Why is Viola so insistent on helping first Olivia and then the Duke? Yes, Viola explains that she wants to serve the Court to regain her reputation in the new land of Illyria, but I believe that there is some deeper desire pushing her toward the Duke’s Court and the Duke’s love interest.

Is Viola in love with Olivia?

Whatever the reason, one thing is certain: Viola’s love, unlike the passions of other characters in the play, is constant and true. Rather than hop-scotch from one romantic interest to the next (Olivia, we’re talking about you), Viola’s devotion is rock-steady and perhaps even a bit self-destructive.

How does Viola work with Olivia?

Viola, disguised as Cesario, is let in to see Olivia. Viola begins to deliver the love speech that Orsino gave her, but Olivia refuses to hear the memorized speech. Viola is eloquent enough to make Olivia pay attention to her, though, as she praises Olivia’s great beauty and virtues to the skies.

Why does Viola decide that she Cannot go to work in Olivia's home?

Olivia wants to be alone; she does not want a companion of any sort, especially not a stranger. Viola knows that she must do something, so she disguises herself as the young man Cesario and goes to work for Duke Orsino.

Why does Viola work for Orsino?

When the captain tells her that Olivia, in mourning, isn’t seeing anyone, the energetic Viola quickly determines to disguise herself as a male so she can become a gentleman to Duke Orsino.

Why did Viola disguise herself as a man?

In Twelfth Night, Viola dresses as the male Cesario in order to gain entry into Orsino’s court. In Elizabethan England, women were not allowed to act professionally, and female parts were all performed by men, so Viola would have actually been played by a male actor, dressing as a woman dressing as a man.

Who does Olivia fall in love with?

Olivia is in mourning at the start of the play, but seems to forget her loss rather quickly. She refuses to meet with any suitors, but with a little persistence from Cesario (Viola) she gives in. Olivia then falls in love with Cesario (Viola). At the end of the play Olivia marries Viola’s twin brother, Sebastian.

Why does Viola decide to assume her brother's appearance and work for Orsino?

Viola wants to serve Olivia because she believes she can keep her identity private if she serves her. She decided to cut her hair and change her appearance to that of her brother’s in order to look like a boy and be able to serve.

Are Sebastian and Viola twins?

Sebastian is the twin brother of Viola. After the beginning of the play, Viola mentions that her brother Sebastian is drowned in the sea. The next appearance of Sebastian denies this, as he has been rescued by Antonio, a sea Captain who looks after Sebastian at some risk to himself.

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Why is Viola the hero of Twelfth Night?

Viola is the protagonist of the play. … Viola’s two desires are now in conflict with one another, and each prevents the other from being realized. She cannot explain her love to Orsino without revealing her true identity, and maintaining her disguise requires her to hide her feelings.

Why did Orsino marry Viola?

Orsino seems interested in marrying Viola for two reasons. The first reason is that he has already been impressed by the devotion and fidelity she showed while disguised as his page. … Orsino is impressed by Viola’s courage and intelligence, especially once he learns she’s a woman of nobility.

How does Viola indirectly tell Orsino of her love?

There’s great irony in this statement, since she/he is secretly in love with Orsino. This gives their ensuing conversation considerable poignancy. Viola tells Orsino that the person whom she loves is like Orsino in age and appearance; Orsino responds that Viola/Cesario has terrible taste (lines 30-40).

Why does Olivia reject Duke's proposal?

Expert Answers Olivia refuses the Duke’s proposal because she is has unwittingly fallen in love with Cesario, who is really Viola in disguise.

Who loves Olivia Twelfth Night?

Orsino. A powerful nobleman in the country of Illyria. Orsino is lovesick for the beautiful Lady Olivia, but becomes more and more fond of his handsome new page boy, Cesario, who is actually a woman—Viola.

Why won't Olivia accept any of Orsino's gifts?

Why won’t Olivia accept any of Orsino’s gifts? She is mourning her dead brother.

Why is Viola disguised?

In ‘ Twelfth Night’, why did Viola disguise herself as Sebastian? – Quora. Viola has been shipwrecked in Illyria, a land that she doesn’t know and she is probably feeling very insecure and frightened. To protect herself she decides to disguise herself as a man and calls herself Cesario.

What does Viola disguise herself as to survive in this new land?

Viola must fend for herself in a strange land. Therefore, she decides to disguise herself as a man named Cesario and serves as a page to Duke Orsino.

How does Viola disguise herself in order to help Orsino?

Then we meet Viola who has been shipwrecked and separated from her twin brother Sebastian. She would like to serve the Countess Olivia, who is also mourning for a brother, but learns that she will not accept visitors. Instead Viola disguises herself as a boy and goes to work as a servant to Orsino.

What does Orsino offer to do if Viola is able to talk to Olivia face to face?

Viola’s Revelation The duke says that his servants can all join Viola so that he can be left alone and that if she accomplishes the mission of speaking to Olivia, he will repay her with a fortune.

Who tells Viola about Duke Orsino?

The ship’s captain tells Viola all about Duke Orsino, who rules Illyria. Viola remarks that she has heard of this duke and mentions that he used to be a bachelor. The captain says that Orsino still is a bachelor, but then goes on to tell Viola about the Lady Olivia, whom the duke is courting.

Why does Viola work as a page?

Viola laments the loss of her twin brother, Sebastian, in the shipwreck. She resolves to fend for herself by dressing as a boy to get work as a page to Duke Orsino. Despite his former rejection, Orsino sends his new page Cesario (Viola in disguise) to court Olivia for him.

Why does Olivia disguise herself in Twelfth Night?

Although a lady, Viola disguises herself as a gentleman to protect her youth and maidenhood in Illyria. This disguise helps her to get the job of a page at the court of the noble duke, Orsino.

Why does Viola suspect that her brother may be alive?

How does Viola come to suspect that Sebastian is still alive? … Because she thinks he’s Cesario. He accepts her offer and when she asks him to marry her, he says yes to that too.

What does Olivia confess to Viola?

Olivia Makes a Confession She asks if Cesario can look beyond her dishonesty and see that she is taking a risk by telling him that she loves him. … Olivia finally says that she will not waste any more time loving him and that when he is old enough to love a woman and get married, his wife will be very lucky.

Is Olivia a princess in Twelfth Night?

OliviaCreated byWilliam Shakespeare

How did Viola prove to Sebastian that she is his sister?

Viola then reveals that her real identity is hidden by “masculine usurp’d attire”; she is Sebastian’s lost twin sister, and she can prove it by taking them to the home of a sea captain who knows of her disguise and is keeping her women’s clothes for her; however, they must produce Malvolio because he has been holding …

Why is Antonio a wanted man in Illyria?

In Twelfth Night Antonio is wanted in Illyria because of a fight against Count Orsino’s ships.

Is Illyria a real place?

At the time Shakespeare was writing, no actual place called Illyria existed. In the ancient Greek era, a region called Illyria was located off the Adriatic Coast in territory that now includes parts of Croatia, Serbia, and Bosnia, as well as other regions.

HOW DOES SHE'S THE MAN relate to Twelfth Night?

In “She’s the Man”, Viola does it to play in the boys soccer team. Viola and Sebastian are twins in “Twelfth Night and “She’s the Man” they both look alike. Both dress as a man to deal with some type of conflict, “She’s the Man” is a getting into the soccer team, in “Twelfth Night” the conflict is her brother’s death .

What does Viola want in Twelfth Night?

Viola wants to serve her, but, finding this impossible, she has the Sea Captain dress her up like a eunuch, so she can serve the Duke instead. Viola chooses the name Cesario and secures a position as a page working for the Duke.