You have clearly selected an excellent example of one of
Shakespeare's Romantic Comedies. Typically as one of Shakespeare's comedies, this play
involves mistaken identities, cross-dressing, disguises and people falling in love with
people they shouldn't fall in love with. Thus it is that we are introduced in Act I
scene i to the Duke Orsino, who is swift to declare his undying love for Lady
Olivia:
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,E'er since pursued
me.
This situation is
immediately complicated by news of Olivia's unremitting resolution to not marry for love
of her dead brother:
The element itself, till seven years'
heat,
Shall not behold her face at ample
view,
But like a cloistress she will veiled
walk...
So, it is clear that
Olivia does not return these feelings, as we see from her distaste of being forced to
listen to them once more from Cesario. However, this situation is further complicated in
Act I scene iv by the irony of Viola dressed as Cesario being forced to take messages of
love from her master to Olivia when she is in love with Orsino
herself!
Yet a
barful strife!Whoe'er I woo, myself would be his
wife.
Then of course note
Olivia's response to Cesario in Act I scene v:
Even so quickly may one catch the
plague?
Methinks I feel this youth's
perfections
With an invisible and subtle
stealth
To creep in at mine
eyes.
So, three characters,
each involved in a crazy tangled up relationship involving disguises, secret loves and
unrequited love. The real question of course is how on earth is Shakespeare going to
resolve this situation in this "comedy"?! Read on to find out - however hopefully I have
been able to highlight some of the key characteristics of a Shakesperian comedy for you
and illustrated how they apply to this excellent play. Enjoy!
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