The Interpretation Of Act V Scene I Essays - Viola, Twelfth Night

The Interpretation of Act V Scene I The Twelfth Night is a Shakespearean romantic comedy that is filled with plenty of humor and lots of deception. It is frequently read as a play about masking, about the conscious and unconscious assumption of false identities and about levels of self-knowledge and self-deception; this theme is played out prominently through Viola's transsexual disguise (Kahn 43). The play is comprised of five acts and numerous scenes. However, I am only going to touch on one of these scenes in my paper. The scene I chose to write about is act V scene I. I chose this scene because it is the one that interested me the most, and I feel that it is also the scene with the most hidden meanings. Act V scene I, in my opinion, is a very complicated scene. I am going to discuss the part of the scene just before Sebastian enters, with Viola disguised as Cesario. Viola, in this part, is surrounded by many people all of whom think she is someone other than the person she actually is. This is where Viola/Cesario speaking to Olivia protests undoubtedly her love for Orsino by saying, "After him I love, More than I love these eyes, more than my life (Twelfth Night 5.1. 134)." Olivia, after hearing this, is confused and protests to Viola that they are married by saying, "Whither, my lord? Cesario, husband, stay (Twelfth Night 5.1. 141)!" Viola/Cesario denies this and is shocked by the accusation. Olivia continues to press the issue by getting the priest to confirm the marriage. It is at this point, when Orsino hears and believes the priest's confirmation of the marriage, that I feel he expresses signs of homosexuality towards Viola whom he still believes is Cesario. Orsino becomes fill ed with anger and jealousy towards Viola/Cesario saying, "Farewell, and take her, but direct thy feet where thou and I henceforth may never meet. (Twelfth Night 5.1. 166-167)." At some level, Cesario is a homosexual object choice for both Olivia and Orsino; at another, a heterosexual one (Kahn 44). I believe that at this part of the scene Viola/Cesario is experiencing some form of an identity crisis. Although she is a woman who has deceived everyone into believing she is a man, she is now becoming bewildered by a strange turn of events. She's being accused of denying having known Antonio and having beaten up Sir Toby Belch and Sir Andrew. She is being accused of acts that she has not done and has no recollection of ever doing. The reason she denies all of these wrong doings is because her brother, Sebastian, is responsible. This casts doubt in her mind as to who she really is and what is happening. Sebastian enters the scene and his entrance, in a way, relieves Viola of all the accusations she has endured. It was Sebastian who Antonio has been looking for; it was Sebastian who beat up Sir Toby Belch and Sir Andrew, and finally it was Sebastian who has married Olivia. We come to realize this when he says: I am sorry, madam, I have hurt your kinsman: But had it been the brother of my blood, I must have done no less with wit and safety. I do perceive it hath offended you: Pardon me, sweet one, even for the vows We made each other but so late ago. (Twelfth Night 5.1. 207-213) Antonio! O my dear Antonio, How have the hours rack'd and tortur'd me, Since I have lost thee! (Twelfth Night 5.1. 216-218) At this point everyone is stunned not knowing who is who. In a sense, everyone feels as if they are seeing double. It's ironic since Sebastian and Viola are twins. Once Viola and Sebastian realized they were brother and sister Viola feels as though she is free to cast off her masculine disguise and let everyone know that she is really a woman as she talks about putting back on her feminine clothes or her "maiden weeds (Twelfth Night 5.1. 253)." Karen Greif says that the recognition of identity is at first an experience involving only the reunited twins; but, as the facts of their kinship are brought forth, the circle of awareness expands to include Orsino and Olivia. They appreciate for