Shakespeare’s comedy Twelfth Night and tragedy King Lear are similar in many regards. The dominate male character in each play are similar in character function, allowing them to easily be compared to each other. The motif of disguise and money serves as an important function in how relationships between characters form. The theme of love shed lights on the characters’ similar personalities. King Lear and Orsino are similar in that they both have unpredictable tempers that quickly change. When Oswald enters the room, King Lear asks him “who am I, sir?” (79-80) as a way to test Oswald to see if Oswald will refer to him as a king, even though he is not the King anymore. Much to King Lear’s disappointment, Oswald replies “my lady’s father” (81) which infuriates King Lear and causes him to lose his temper. He begins to curse at Oswald, calling him a“whoreson dog”, “slave”, and a “cur” (7). This overreaction demonstrates how King Lear, when not pleased, will quickly change his temper. Orsino, like King Lear, also has a quick temper when he is not pleased. While Orsino does not lose his temper, he tells Cesario that men’s “fancies …show more content…
Lear’s first knight brings offers his opinion that his Lear’s daughters have intentionally been treating Lear with little respect. This does not deter Lear as he says, “I have perceived a most faint neglect of late, which I have rather blamed as mine own jealous curiosity than as a very pretense and purpose of unkindness”; demonstrating how Lear is willing to take the blame for his daughter’s treatment towards him, and will not take his first knight’s advice. Orsino gives his advice on love to Cesario, and tells him that “if ever thou shalt love, in the sweet pangs of it remember me”, showing how Orsino is also being self absorbed as he wants Cesario to think of him in times of trouble. Orsino is only able to think of his own problems: that Lady Olivia will not marry