Examples Of Deception In Twelfth Night

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Many works of literature contain a character who intetionally deceives others. The character's dishonesty may be intended either to help or to hurt. Such a character, for example, may choose to mislead other for personal safety, to spare someone's feelings, or to carry out a crime. Twelfth Night portrays multiple examples of deceiption. Olivia, Feste, Maria and Viola/Cesario all decieve others.
To start, in act one scene two, Valentine announces to Orsino that Olivia will be hiding her face for the next seven year in mourning for her brother. During this time, she wants no romantic interests. However, in act scene Olivia shows romantic interest in Cesario, and later marries Sebastian. This proves that she was only attempting to deceive Orsino, in hopes that he would end his mission to marry her. …show more content…

In the first act, when Viola shipwrecks off the coast of Illyria, she is rescued by a captain and believes her twin brother has drowned. In the realization that she no longer has male protection and is alone in a male-dominated society, Viola decides to disguise herself as a eunuch named Cesario and serve Duke Orsino. By doing this, she is intentionally deceiving Orsino, Olivia, Malvolio, Sir Toby, and Sir Andrew for her own personal safety.
Following Viola, Maria also partcipates in the act of deception. She produces an idea to Sir Toby, Sir Andrew, and Fabian that will trick Malvolio into thinking Olivia is in love with him. Maria writes a letter to Malvolio, pretending to be Olivia, confessing her nonexistent, undying love for the steward. The letter requests that Malvolio smile constantly and wear yellow, cross-gartered stockings. When Malvolio does, Olivia is so shocked that she believes Malvolio is mad and has him sent away. Maria uses deception for the entertainment of herself, Sir Toby, Sir Andrew, and Fabian at the expense of

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