Viola

Viola/Cesario **A Synopsis of __Twelfth Night__ by William Shakespeare **

The play opens with the leading character Viola shipwrecked on the shores of Illyria. During the storm that wrecked her ship Viola lost touch with her twin brother Sebastian and assumes that he's died. After talking to her ship captain Viola decides to conceal her identity and sex by masquerading as a eunuch named Cesario. Viola becomes a page for Duke Orsino who has convinced himself that he is in love with Lady Olivia, whose father and brother have recently died, and who will have nothing to do with any suitors, the Duke included. Orsino decides to use "Cesario" as a middle-man to tell Olivia about his love for her. Olivia, believing Viola to be a man, falls in love with this handsome and eloquent messenger. Viola, in turn, has fallen in love with the Duke, who also believes Viola is a man, and who regards her as his confidant. Much of the rest of the show is taken up with the subplot of trying to convince Olivia's main steward Malvolio that Olivia is in love with her. Once Viola/Cesario realizes that Olivia is in love with her Viola tactfully rejects Olivia’s advances. Olivia hurt by Viola's attitude summons her chief steward and mishaps ensue. (While these events are important to the plot they have very little to do with Viola's character development so I'm leaving them out. The events are very confusing for those who are not watching the play and if included in enough detail to make sense this synopsis would in no way be 'short') Sebastian arrives in Illyria seeming confused. Mistaking Sebastian for Viola Olivia asks him to marry her and they secretly elope. Finally both twins run into each other as well as Olivia and the Duke. Viola reveals she is really a female and Sebastian is her lost twin brother. The play ends with the reunion of Viola and Sebastian and a declaration of marriage between Duke and Viola leading to a celebration.

Humorous and Mostly Accurate Plot Summary of Twelfth Night

**Archetypal Function **

The main character of the play Twelfth Night Viola/Cesario could fit the archetype of Bright Young Thing.


 * Girl who takes matters into her own hands.-This is a quality Viola completely embodies. After surviving a storm so severe it totals her ship and separates her from her brother she takes matters into her own hands and takes control of her life. Not many aristocratic women would have the strength to cut off their hair change their identity and pretend to be part of one of the lowest social classes; essentially taking a demotion in rank. "Conceal me what I am, and be my aid for such disguise as haply shall become the form of my intent. I'll serve this duke" (I,2,96)
 * Gets what he wants-It takes her the entire comedy to sort everything out but by the end of the play Viola has everything she wants. She learns her twin brother Sebastian survived the shipwreck and she finally gets to meet him. Since Olivia and Sebastian have been secretly married she no longer has to worry about dodging the advances of Lady Olivia. Finally after she reveals that she is in fact a female Duke Orsino proclaims his love for her and she for him “I love [Orsino] More than I love these eyes, more than my life, more, by all mores, than e'er I shall love wife." (V, 1, 2327) he asks for her hand in marriage. Once she is married to the Duke she can return to her previous social class level and there is really nothing for her to want at the end of the play all of her conflicts have been resolved at the end of the play.
 * Brings resolution of comedies- By revealing her true identity and sex brings a final closing to this play. As mentioned above she gets everything she wants but her reveal helps bring resolution to other characters in the play. The best example of this is how her presence and reveal help out her twin brother Sebastian. The only reason Olivia asks him to marry her is because she mistakes him for Cesario/Viola. Viola acts in a respectable manner while she's in disguise so when people mistake Sebastian for her they treat him nicely and are very cordial. Finally Viola's reveal reunites the two twins who surprisingly have never met. This family reunion of sorts is what motivates her to reveal her true identity and sex 'If nothing lets to make us happy both but this my masculine usurp'd attire, do not embrace me till each circumstance of place, time, fortune, do cohere and jump that I am Viola." (V,1,2450) In the end Sebastian goes from being shipwrecked and confused to being the toast of the town with a wealthy good looking wife in a matter of days all thanks to Viola.
 * Obviously Young-For all of the cunning, skills, and maturity Viola shows there are moments where she shows her youth. Instead of going to the duke or lady of the town she finds herself in explaining her aristocratic lineage and asking for help, she decides to conceal her identity and gets caught in a love triangle. Instead of being honest with both of them and explaining the situation she continues stringing them along. She often has trouble committing to her new male persona especially when dealing with Orsino. Often times she makes comical remarks that would reveal her identity if anyone was paying close attention. "I am all the daughters of my father's house, and all the brothers too." (II,4,1021) She doesn't handle her disguise with the ease and maturity of a woman which puts her into situation she doesn't enjoy.
 * Another literary example of this archetype that Viola is similar to is Beatrice __from Much Ado About Nothing__. Like Viola they both take matters into their own hands and don't follow the "traditional roles for women." They're both women with great ambition and while their men quiet them by the end of the play they never settle. Benedick and Orsino are exactly the men they said they wanted.

**How to Speak Like Viola/Cesario **


 * Step1: Conceal Your Identity by Pretending To Be a Different Sex **


 * Quote: ** Conceal me what I am, and be my aid

For such disguise as haply shall become

The form of my intent. I'll serve this duke:

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Thou shall present me as a eunuch to him:

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">It may be worth thy pains; for I can sing

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">And speak to him in many sorts of music

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">That will allow me very worth his service.

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">What else may hap to time I will commit;

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Only shape thou thy silence to my wit. (I, 2, 96)


 * <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Commentary: **<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> This gives you a firsthand look at how Viola responds in a crisis. It shows what lengths she is willing to go to keep on surviving and she remains pretty calm in a very stressful situation. While her manner and attitude may be calm her logic is slightly flawed. We find out later that Viola is of Aristocratic Birth which should mean that in this time period she could respectfully approach the Duke explain her lineage and situation and get his help. Her plan does show her immaturity however if she had just talked to Orsino there would be no real play. This step is essential to becoming Viola because she spends 90% of the play masquerading as her alternate persona Cesario.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Step 2: Become an Intermediate Between Your Boss and His Love Interest and Become Trapped In a Love Triangle **


 * <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Quote: **<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Sure, my noble lord,

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">If she be so abandon'd to her sorrow

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">As it is spoke, she never will admit me. (I, 4, 265)

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Say I do speak with her, my lord, what then? (I, 4, 270)

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I'll do my best

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">To woo your lady:

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">[Aside]

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">yet, a barful strife!

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Whoe'er I woo, myself would be his wife. (I, 4, 289)


 * <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Commentary: **<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The central conflict within the play is this love triangle Viola gets herself into, and how she handles it. This shows the first relationship within that triangle between Viola and Orsino. Viola has only just met him and already she’s thinking of marriage which would be a problem since Orsino only knows her as Cesario. It can be argued that the only reason Olivia comes into this love triangle because of Viola’s speech addressed in step 5. If she had stuck to the words Orsino wanted her to recite it wouldn’t of been as powerful. This plays into the Get what she wants part of her archetype because this is the first time she address her interest in Orsino out loud.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Step 3: Use Inverted Word Order in Most of Your Sentences **


 * <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Quote: **<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Would it be better, madam, than I am?

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I wish it might, for now I am your fool. (III, 1, 1382)

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">By innocence I swear, and by my youth

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I have one heart, one bosom and one truth,

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">And that no woman has; nor never none

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Shall mistress be of it, save I alone.

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">And so adieu, good madam: never more

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Will I my master's tears to you deplore? (III, 1, 1396)


 * <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Commentary: **<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">If there is one thing Viola loves to use its inverted word order. It’s included in all of her monologues and soliloquys and a majority of her lines. Inverted word order is definitely part of Shakespeare’s writing style but he uses with a heavy hand to characterize Viola. I think this is to show what a great speaker Viola is after all its Viola’s words that Olivia falls in love with first not Cesario’s appearance. This passage also shows how Viola tries to tactfully lets Olivia down without embarrassing her or hurting her feelings


 * <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Step 4: Use Repetition of One Word or Phrase to Emphasize Your Point **


 * <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Quote: **<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">After him I love

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">More than I love these eyes, more than my life,

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">More, by all mores, than e'er I shall love wife.

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">If I do feign, you witnesses above

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Punish my life for tainting of my love! (V, 1, 2327)


 * <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Commentary: **<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">This is another tool Viola uses often to enhance her speech. It’s interesting to note that this step also applies to the repetition of the word “one” in the quote from step 3. That quote is taken from an entirely different act showing how often Viola uses this literary device. It’s also interesting that Viola uses the repetition in her speech to describe her love for Orsino in both cases. This emphasizes how deeply in love with him she is; and is Shakespeare’s way of showing that this isn’t a shallow meaningless puppy love. Viola has gone through a lot and at this point it’s all to be with Orsino even if only as his page.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Step 5: Speak in Complex Imperative Sentences When Wooing Someone **


 * <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Quote: **<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">If I did love you in my master's flame,

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">With such a suffering, such a deadly life,

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">In your denial I would find no sense;

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I would not understand it. (I, 5, 554)

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Make me a willow cabin at your gate,

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">And call upon my soul within the house;

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Write loyal cantons of contemned love

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">And sing them loud even in the dead of night;

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Halloo your name to the reverberate hills

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">And make the babbling gossip of the air

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Cry out 'Olivia!' O, you should not rest

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Between the elements of air and earth,

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">But you should pity me! (I, 5, 559)


 * <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Commentary: **<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Finally a Technique used by Viola in a majority of her lines courting Olivia for Orsino are imperative statements. Viola knows all the things a woman want so hear from a man because she’s a woman herself. It’s ironic because Viola thought she was helping Orsino out by ditching his prepared speech and using her own words and in fact that’s what makes Olivia fall in love with her. This is because Viola is a passionate speaker the imperative statements are meant to make Olivia feel as if she’s in control and if I learned anything from the Wife of Bath it’s that woman want control over there men. Viola really understands what a woman wants to hear when she’s being courted and unfortunately for her she does it to well.

**<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Conclusion **

<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic',sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">So if you ever find yourself shipwrecked on an island in Greece, separated from your brother who you’ve never met but were riding in the same ship with, concealing your identity by posing as the opposite sex, stuck in the middle of a love triangle between you, your boss, and lady who’s locked herself in her house due to grief and you wonder how to get out of this sticky situation remember these 5 tips. They’ll see you through the entire ordeal and you’ll come out married, rich, and ready to celebrate.