There are many themes about mistakes in love and relationships in Twelfth Night: whether it is foolish to love too passionately (Orsino and Olivia both make this mistake), or to put your love where someone doesn’t love you back (again, Orsino and Olivia both make this mistake, so does Sir Andrew) ; or bad to love yourself above others (Malvolio). Viola, being wise, refuses to admit her love to Orsino though she leaves hints, until an appropriate time. Sir Toby realizes that it is better to marry a woman who loves him and will risk trouble for him (Maria), than to cling to his niece’s money.
Choose two of these characters (Orsino, Olivia, Viola, Sir Toby, Sir Andrew, Maria, Malvolio), and discuss the mistakes/foolish choices, or smart moves, they make regarding love. Then Persuade me (your reader) as to either which one was more foolish, or which wiser, in how they handled their relationship situation in this play.
Support your viewpoint with specific examples from scenes in the play that show their folly and their wisdom.
Your thesis statement will be a declaration of which is the more foolish, or wiser, between the two.
You can choose to compare two you consider both foolish (which is even more the fool?)
Two which are wise (which is wiser?)
One you feel of each (One fool and one wise).
Checklist: Does my essay have an organizational pattern?
Is it between 2-3 pages long?
Does the thesis identify which of two characters is wiser or more foolish in love?
Does it communicate a clear overall impression?
Does it have transitions that link sentences together effectively?
Does it grab the reader's attention with a strong beginning and a strong conclusion?
Does it have correct spelling, grammar, capitalization, and punctuation?
Is it in MLA format?
Does it include directly quoted lines from the play cited properly?
Title: The Foibles and Wisdom of Orsino and Olivia in Twelfth Night
Introduction
In Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, characters frequently make mistakes and foolish choices when it comes to love and relationships. Orsino, Olivia, Viola, Sir Toby, Sir Andrew, Maria, and Malvolio each navigate the complexities of love in their own unique ways. This essay will focus on Orsino and Olivia, examining their respective errors and sound decisions in handling their relationship situations. Ultimately, the analysis will argue that while both characters display a degree of foolishness, Olivia emerges as the wiser of the two.
Body
Paragraph 1: Orsino's Foolishness in Love
Orsino's character embodies the folly of love, particularly in his passionate and excessive affection for Olivia. He becomes enamored with the idea of being in love, reveling in his own self-indulgent emotions. Orsino's mistake lies in his failure to see beyond his desires and recognize Olivia's lack of reciprocation. For instance, in Act 1, Scene 1, he proclaims, "If music be the food of love, play on, / Give me excess of it, that, surfeiting, / The appetite may sicken and so die" (1.1.1-3). Orsino's obsession with love blinds him to the truth, making him appear foolish and naive.
Paragraph 2: Olivia's Foolish Choices
While Olivia is an object of desire for Orsino, she too exhibits weaknesses in her understanding of love. Olivia's first mistake is falling in love with Cesario (Viola), despite knowing little about him. This infatuation stems from her desire to escape mourning for her brother, effectively using Cesario as a means of emotional avoidance. Olivia also makes an impulsive decision by agreeing to marry Sebastian without fully understanding his character. In Act 4, Scene 3, she impulsively exclaims, "Say that some lady, as perhaps there is, / Hath for your love a great a pang of heart / As you have for Olivia" (4.3.35-37). Olivia's willingness to marry someone she barely knows demonstrates her hastiness and imprudence.
Paragraph 3: Viola's Wise Handling of Love
In contrast to Orsino and Olivia's foolishness, Viola displays wisdom in her handling of her own love for Orsino. Despite her own feelings, she refuses to confess her love directly to him, acknowledging the inappropriate timing. Instead, she subtly hints at her affection through her dialogues and actions. Viola embodies this wise approach when she states in Act 2, Scene 4, "O Time, thou must untangle this, not I; / It is too hard a knot for me t'untie!" (2.4.95-96). Viola understands the importance of patience and allowing love to unfold naturally, positioning herself as the voice of reason amidst the chaos of misplaced affections.
Paragraph 4: Olivia's Wisdom in Choosing Love
Despite her earlier follies, Olivia eventually displays a wisdom that Orsino lacks by choosing love over material wealth. She rejects Malvolio's vain attempts to win her by sheer displays of self-importance, opting instead for a genuine and love-driven relationship with Sir Toby. In Act 5, Scene 1, Olivia defies societal norms and reveals her wisdom when she declares, "I do love, / More than I love these eyes, more than my life, / More, by all mores, than e'er I shall love wife" (5.1.134-136). Olivia's decision to marry for love instead of wealth showcases her growth and maturity.
Conclusion
In evaluating the characters of Orsino and Olivia in Twelfth Night, both exhibit their fair share of foolishness and wisdom in handling their respective relationship situations. However, when considering their overall development and decision-making, Olivia emerges as the wiser of the two. While Orsino remains trapped in his infatuation and fails to perceive reality, Olivia learns from her past mistakes and chooses love over societal expectations. Through their contrasting approaches, Shakespeare illuminates the complexities and nuances of love, reminding readers of the pitfalls and rewards that accompany the pursuit of affection.