Theme Of Deception In Twelfth Night

"It's discouraging to think how many people are shocked by honesty and how few by deceit."-Noel Coward. The truth can be disguised and deceit can take its place which leads to misinterpretations and misconceptions. In Shakespeare's comedy known as Twelfth Night, the idea of deceit and misconceptions is all throughout the play. In one way or another, the truth is disguised. Shakespeare shows that misconception and misinterpretation don't always end in a good way, but sometimes have happy endings. In Shakespeare's Twelfth Night deceit is a huge part. Towards others and towards the characters' selves. For instance, when Valentine says "The element itself, till seven years heat shall not behold her face at ample view. But like a cloistress she will veiled walk and water once a day with eye-offending brine."(1.1.25-29). This quote means that Olivia will stay hidden for seven years and will not show her face. She will go around hidden from others' sights while crying. This also can infer that she does want to fall in love with someone. Her deception to love is huge. She was said to stay hidden, but then she meets Cesario, who is Viola in disguise. She deceives herself because she falls in love with Cesario! What happened to not showing your face those seven years? Olivia, in a way had deceived herself when she decided to ignore her

For instance, in Twelfth Night when Olivia says: "How now? Even so quickly may one catch the plague."(1.5.269-270) In this quote Olivia is shocked because she thinks she has fallen in love with Cesario. But what she does not know is that Cesario is actually Viola in disguise. This is a huge misconception which leads to a great deal of confusion throughout the book. This misconception not only shows deceit towards Olivia, it also plays a part in deceiving in other characters. So, in a way, Olivia is getting deceived through a misconception and she thinks it's true