Orsino Twelfth Night

Love is a persuasive emotion, able to change people in unimaginable ways. It makes people reflect on themselves, allowing them to find flaws preventing them from finding love. Love also causes people to be more aware of others, showing how powerful it’s influence is. Shakespeare, through this intricate love story, captures this influence through characters Olivia and Duke Orsino. Through it’s demonstration of the influence of love, William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night suggests that to find compassion and true love, one must reflect on their behavior and change to consider others’ feelings.

Shakespeare uses character development to show how, because of Orsino’s love for Olivia, Orsino transformed. Throughout the play, Duke Orsino becomes more independent and less naive, developing beyond his old, irritating character. In the beginning, Duke Orsino’s ignorance is seen in his dialogue, such as when he says, “Therefore, good

Here, Duke Orsino, commands Viola to force Olivia to love him, without taking Olivia’s preference into account. In fact, he always orders his friends to talk to her, although he is the one who likes her. However, Duke Orsino shows change when he admits his love for Olivia, shouting, “There is no woman’s sides can bide the beating of so strong a passion as love doth give my heart… Make me compare between that love a woman can bear me and that I owe Olivia!” (2.4). Here, he grows, starting to think of Olivia as a person. Orsino’s love for her, now not only being based on looks, provide to be the reason of his ignorance, therefore proving that he developed by rightfully being ignorant. It was also proven that he became less naive by reflecting on his love for Olivia. In the ending, even further change is seen when