Seminar paper from the year 2013 in the subject English Language and
Literature Studies - Literature, grade: 1,0, University of Cologne,
language: English, abstract: Two key themes stand out in Act 2, Scene 4,
of William Shakespeare's play Twelfth Night. On one hand constancy of
love plays a significant part and on the other hand gender deception. In
this scene Viola, disguised as Cesario, defends the love of women and
defies Orsino's critic of women's inconsistent love compared to men's
enduring passion: "Too well what love women to men may owe. In faith,
they are as true of heart as we." (2.4.103-104) Viola's appreciation of
the woman's side and her continuous word plays demonstrate her intention
to help Orsino uncovering her disguise and reciprocating her love. The
following dialogue provides an essential challenge for the
interpretation and production of this scene. One can either illustrate
that Orsino actually reveals Violas deceit or lay emphasis on Orsino's
simplicity and thus demonstrate his naivety. Her hints commence when she
says: "We men may say more, swear more, but indeed our shows are more
than will" (2.4.116). Here, Shakespeare uses the phonological identity
of 'we men' and 'women' to create an ambiguity of meaning. The ambiguity
peaks with her admission: "I am all the daughters of my father's house,
and all the brother too" (2.4.118-119), indicating that Viola assumes
her brother Sebastian died in the shipwreck. Orsino seems captured in
Viola's story before he commands her to go to Olivia again concerning
his confession of love. However, the scene begins with a melancholic
Orsino demanding for a song, performed by Feste. The waiting for the
jester leads to a conversation between Orsino and Viola. Orsino realizes
that Viola is in love with someone and interrogates her. In this
dialogue she insinuates that Orsino is the one she loves but due to her
disguise Orsino does not detect the clue although she uses the word
'your' conspicuously three times
