Thursday, February 25, 2010
III.i.148-9
Viola is speaking to Olivia when she almost gives herself away by saying, "Then think you right. I am not what I am." and Olivia completely misses the point when she says, "I would you were as I would have you be." in Act three Scene one lines 148 and 149. Viola is trying to convince Olivia that she is not in love with the person she thinks she is in love with, because she is not what she has claimed she is. She is hinting that Olivia does not know the real her, which is true considering she is a woman. Viola is so blinded by love that she does not catch the clue and continues to profess her love to Viola explaining that she wants her no matter who she is. Readers should pay attention to this quote because this is the point in the play when we realize that everything is nothing and nothing is what it seems to be. Everything needs to return to normal in Illyria and in this scene because if it does not then the whole bit is in shambles and will be ruined if Viola's character is outed by Olivia's pressing love for her.
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Can you demonstrate the "so-what factor" of this quote? In other words, can you show why a reader might want to pay attention to this line? What wisdom is represented here? Does this still occur today? To whom? Why?
ReplyDeleteI agree with you in that Olivia has become blinded by love. Emotions are powerful and Olivia is letting her own get the better of her. She needs to realize what is going on and that not everything will go someone's way. Speaking of which, that goes the same for nearly every character in this play.
ReplyDeleteI noted that every character acts based on their delusions in Twelfth Night. I wonder if that is why the realm in this play is coined "Illyria." All of the characters choose to believe what they desire, rather than the truth. Illyria means land of delirium, which explains the condition of its inhabitants residing there.
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