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Viola's Disguise In Twelfth Night

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Numerous events and conflicts from Twelfth Night are dependant on Viola’s disguise, as she is caught in between Olivia and Orsino’s affection due to her disguise. In the beginning of the play, she dresses up as a male in order to conceal her identity and to get a job at Orsino’s court. In doing so, she is able to gain more of his trust than she would have if she was a female. By disguising herself as a man Viola is able attract his attention and appreciation to ultimately prove her worth to him as a woman. Moreover, Viola's disguise also allows Orsino to respect her intelligence which causes her to win his love. First, her disguise represents her wit since she is able to adapt in a new environment quickly and excel at her job as well. Not only does this disguise prove Viola’s quick-thinking but also proves some of Orsino’s thoughts. …show more content…

As he states that all lovers are, “Unstaid and skittish in all motions else / Save in the constant image of the creature / That is beloved.” (2.4, 20-22). This demonstrates Orsino’s misunderstanding of the concept of love, as it seems that true love means fickle and erratic according to his definition. Furthermore, in disguise as Cesario, Viola also unintentionally exposes the passionate nature beneath the courtly manner and mourning veil of the “virtuous maid” (1.2, 32), as she causes Olivia to fall in desperate love with Cesario. This shows another aspect of Olivia’s character, and initiates a more intriguing plot. Viola’s persistent disguise allows the audience to understand more about both Orsino’s idea of love and an introduction to Olivia’s true feelings. Through all of these examples, Shakespeare clearly shows that sometimes truth can emerge only through disguise and

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