Love as a Cause of Suffering in Twelfth Night

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Shakespeare’s play of ‘Twelfth night,’ globe production, and it’s a modern interpretation, the movie ‘She’s the Man,’ both showcase how ‘Love’ is a subject of pain and torment. It is portrayed as a destructive tool able to completely destroy a person. The character often sees love as something of a curse, something that is placed upon you that you can’t simply or willingly escape. In both adaptations unrequited love for another result in sorrow and heartbreak, it’s result is different for each character. In the more traditional version Orsino is seen as a person having great passion and desire to express his love to Olivia although ultimately fails no matter how strong his perseverance, however in the movie the character is depicted as timid and almost afraid of his feelings towards Olivia, his suffering manifesting from his unwillingness and lack of confidence. The theme of ‘love as a cause of suffering’ is a powerful and influential part of both films.

The unrequited love of Orsino towards Olivia is shown with the many desperate attempts of his being constantly rejected. In one point in the play, Orsino depicts love sorrowfully as an ‘appetite’ that he cannot satisfy (1.1.1–3). Him refers to how he is unable to impress Olivia. His love for Olivia can be seen as something of an infatuation, him constantly thinking and talking about her. ‘O when mine eyes did see Olivia first, Methought she purged the air of pestilence: That instant was I turned into a hart: and my desires like fell and cruel hounds-.’ (1.1.19-22). From the quote he can be seen as madly in love with Olivia, clearly showing very strong feeling towards her. His desperation and determination cause him to show his traits of obsession, love, passion and acceptance. Although he is madly in love with Olivia and will not stop until he is then satisfied, Olivia is however uninterested on multiple occasions making it very clear she has no interest in him, even using the recent death of her brother as an excuse of her to reject Orsino’s offers. ‘O I have read it. It is heresy. Have you no more to say?’ (1.5.187) Instead Olivia’s attention is towards Orsino’s suitor, Cesario, who is disguised as a man. Orsino’s love becomes something of hate in scene V, his realisation of all his efforts and love being disregarded he confronts Olivia, unsheathing his sword and threatening to kill her knowing her love was not for him but for his servant. ‘Why should I not – had I the heart to do it – Like to th’Egyptian thief at point of death kill what I love – a savage jealousy.’ (1.5.187) Orsino’s feelings are so strong for Olivia, that when he finds out that she does not feel the same way for him but for his servant it creates so much anguish that he lashes out and let’s his emotions take over. This relationship is a perfect example of how love can be a cause of suffering.

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Olivia is a lot more straightforward describing love as a ‘plague’ from which she painfully suffers from (1.5.265). She is in love with Cesario, Orsino’s supposed servant who ironically sends his romantic messages to Olivia for him. Stated before, Olivia used mourning over her beloved brother’s death as an excuse to avoid Orsino’s love, however, when Cesario delivers a message from Orsino, Olivia changes from a dramatic, depressed mourner into a joyful obsessed woman who can’t take her eyes off Cesario. ‘Thy tongue, thy face, thy limbs, actions and spirit, Do give thee fivefold blazon.’ (1.5.297-298) From the quote, we can tell Olivia thinks everything about Cesario is attractive, comparing him to a ‘blazon’ (a love poem that describes woman by comparing them to delicious things.) Her love for Viola not only creates problems as he is in fact not a man but for the fact that Cesario falls for Orsino causing a very confusing love triangle. In (3.1.1) Olivia tries to confess her love to Cesario, in which her seduction attempt fails.

The relationship between Malvolio and Olivia is also another occasion of unrequited love. Both versions of the play show Malvolio in love with Olivia, with Olivia having no interest at all. In the more traditional version Malvolio is seen as up-tight and complaining, however Olivia does see him as a trusted adviser. In ‘She’s the man,’ Malcolm is depicted as Malvolio and is madly in love with Olivia constantly trying to impress her and do anything to make her fall for him. She is always ignoring him and treats him like a nuisance. Very similar to the relationship between Orsino and Olivia, Malcom is constantly thinking about her and desperately trying to make her fall for him. In the globe production Malvolio constantly thinks about the idea of marrying Olivia and becomes part of a plot conducted by Maria where he is sent a fake letter by Olivia confessing her love. The letter is addressed to ‘the unknown beloved’ and inside seems to be a riddle about love (II.v.92). Thinking it was written by Olivia he follows what the letter writes wearing yellow stocking sand making a fool out of himself, to the point where Olivia sends him away claiming he is going through ‘midsummer madness.’

In the movie ‘She’s the Man,’ the love between Olivia and Duke is one-sided. Unlike Orsino however, Duke is a lot more timid and hesitant on confessing his feelings to Olivia. Calling upon Viola, who is Sebastian, for help, similar to the traditional version. He gets defensive whenever people tease her or his love for her, such as the scene in the cafeteria where Viola talks about her ‘booty.’ However in other scenarios where the pair are close to one another, such as in the lab, Duke tenses up and becomes a really shy and nervous person. It shows he is completely in love with Olivia however he lacks the confidence to speak to her. Like the globe production, Olivia has no interest in Duke, liking Viola because of her feminine side calling her ‘delicate’ and ‘honest.’ Like in the globe production Olivia is in love with Viola because of her ‘feminine’ side, saying she is straight-forward and honest. In ‘She’s the Man,’ Olivia even uses Duke as a way to get to Sebastian by making him jealous. Wanting to confess her real feelings Olivia because brave and kisses Sebastian from which Duke observes from a distance. In anger Duke kicks Viola out of their room for betraying him. Similar to the globe production in scene V where there is almost a fight for love. The relationship between Duke and Olivia are very similar in both ‘She’s the Man,’ and the globe production.

In both shows ‘Love’ is a recurring theme showing the succession and connection love can bring to certain characters as well as the anguish and heartbreak in can cause others. Love is seen generally as something spontaneous, overpowering and irresistible. However we can see in both versions of Shakespeare’s play, love is seen as dangerous, something that can build and break relationships. It’s message that with love there is always the chance of hurting others.

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