Homosexuality In Shakespeare's Twelfth Night

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Since the early 1990’s, “Queer Theory”, or queer study, has emerged and become very common in influential readings throughout literature. Many scholars apply this poststructuralist theory when criticizing works within the Renaissance period, including the works of William Shakespeare. Twelfth Night continues to be a commonly reviewed work when discussing the recurring homoerotic themes throughout Shakespeare’s works. Though Twelfth Night is often used for the discussion of homosexual interaction in Shakespeare, the conclusions drawn from these possible same-sex attractions are still divided and unclear. Regardless of this division, there is a large amount of substance that supports the unquestionably present homosexual relations in the play. …show more content…

Her attraction for Cesario comes from his gentlemanlike and submissive behavior that she immediately recognizes. Though Orsino is not portrayed as necessarily “masculine” throughout the play, it is the overall declared gender roles in her society that make her feel that she would be dominated in the relationship. The time period of the play also may be a factor in her decisions throughout the play. Many may argue that, after Cesario admits that she is a woman, Olivia’s feelings for Cesario diminish because she is only attracted to men. However, after finding that Cesario is, indeed, a woman, Olivia immediately refrains from showing much emotion and, therefore, never responds in a way to deny her love for Cesario. This reluctant silence is due to the fact that in her society the idea of her being in love with a woman is something that is generally left as unspoken, since it is considered unnatural. According to Bruce R. Smith, a common editor and Shakespeare lecturer, during the Renaissance period, there was no definition to identify a man or woman that was attracted to the same sex (Smith 11-12). Therefore, Olivia has no way of describing or understanding her personal situation, because this issue had never been raised in her society. This, not the lack of attraction to women, is what keeps Olivia from pursuing Viola. Certain aspects of Olivia’s emotions after the discovery of …show more content…

How have you made division of yourself?
Am apple cleft in two is not more twin
Than these two creatures. Which is Sebastian? (V. I. 234, 236-238)
The quote provided above is taken from Antonio’s and the others’ general confusion about the identity of each twin. Olivia’s seeming lack of concern for this dilemma and the constant confusion between Cesario and Sebastian that is present throughout the play may confirm this. Olivia is not the only person who shows this same emotion or lack thereof. Both Orsino and Olivia seem to shift easily between lovers: Orsino from Olivia to Viola and Olivia from Cesario to Sebastian. Ultimately, it is recognized that both Orsino and Olivia are essentially marrying the same person, just in the socially acceptable male or female version.
Though Olivia originally falls in love with what she believed to be a man, it is apparent that it is the feminine qualities in Cesario that drive her passion for him and his identical twin, Sebastian. Olivia’s indifference towards the well-rounded qualities seen in Orsino is explained due to her inability to love a man; however, her society’s ignorance towards the topic makes

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