Love in Twelfth Night

"If music be the food of love, play on." -Orsino Act 1 Scene 1 Line 1

Even the first line displays the underlying theme of the entirety of the play. In the synopsis it can be gathered that Twelfth Night is 'an allusion to the night of festivity preceding the Christian celebration of the Epiphany—combines love, confusion, mistaken identities, and joyful discovery.' In summary, love plays a major role in the plot and character development of Twelfth Night.

The love between siblings should be shown through the connection of twins -- Sebastian and Viola -- which are unfortunately separated due to a shipwreck and that love is never displayed. Upon Viola's return as Cesario under the command of Orsino to woo Olivia on his behalf. Ironically, Olivia falls for Cesario (disguised Viola) and later confuses Cesario with Sebastian (Viola's long lost twin). Although that love triangle can be confusing at first glance, I believe that it is all in good intent because Olivia falls for Cesario's qualities rather than looks alone which are easily mistaken when they do not matter. One reason why Olivia falls in love with Viola disguised as Cesario is because Viola is extremely direct and forthright with her, which can be very attractive. I believe that if Orsino were to be as undoubtedly in love with Olivia as he is, he would do anything in his power to display just how smitten he is rather than sending someone else to do his dirty work. Unlike Orsino, Viola is able to view Olivia through critical judgement, which is far more honest than mere blind love.

I do not know any other way to describe the end to this very confusing maze other than turning to the synopsis which describes this scenario beautifully: "When Sebastian and Viola appear together, the puzzles around the mistaken identities are solved: Cesario is revealed as Viola, Orsino asks for Viola’s hand, Sebastian will wed Olivia, and Viola will marry Count Orsino."

ORSINO
There is no woman’s sides
Can bide the beating of so strong a passion
As love doth give my heart; no woman’s heart
So big, to hold so much; they lack retention.
Alas, their love may be called appetite,
No motion of the liver but the palate,
That suffer surfeit, cloyment, and revolt;
But mine is all as hungry as the sea,
And can digest as much. Make no compare
Between that love a woman can bear me
And that I owe Olivia.
VIOLA
Ay, but I know—
ORSINO
What dost thou know?
VIOLA
Too well what love women to men may owe.
In faith, they are as true of heart as we.
My father had a daughter loved a man
As it might be, perhaps, were I a woman,
I should your Lordship.
(Act 2 Scene 4)

Despite the fact that the play offers a happy ending, in which the various lovers find one another, Shakespeare shows that love can still somehow cause pain. Many of the characters seem to view love as a kind of curse or a feeling that attacks its victims suddenly. Various characters claim to suffer painfully from being in love or suffer from some form of unrequited love. At one point, Orsino depicts love as an “appetite” that he wants to satisfy and cannot (Act 1 Scene 1); at another point, he calls his desires “fell and cruel hounds” (Act 1 Scene 1). Olivia more bluntly describes love as a “plague” from which she suffers terribly (Act 1 Scene 5). These metaphors contain an element of violence, further painting the love-struck as victims of some random force in the universe. Even the less melodramatic Viola sighs unhappily that “My state is desperate for my master’s love” (Act 2 Scene 2).

Love is also exclusionary: some people achieve romantic happiness, while others do not. At the end of the play, as the happy lovers unite, both Malvolio and Antonio are prevented from having the objects of their desire. Malvolio, who has pursued Olivia, must ultimately face the realization that he is a fool, socially unworthy of his noble mistress. Antonio is in a more difficult situation, as social norms do not allow for his sexual attraction to Sebastian. Love, thus, cannot conquer all obstacles, and those whose desires go unfulfilled remain no less in love but feel the sting of its absence.