Topic > The concept of love in Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare

His love for her is not real. Like Olivia Viola, she too has lost her brother (at least she thinks she has) and in the midst of silent mourning for her brother she finds love in Orsino. “Viola's status as Orsino's servant is the condition of possibility and impossibility of her love for him and also of Olivia's erotic desire for her as Cesario” (Schalkwy “Love and Service”). Viola's love seems more real than Orsino and Olivia's love because of her devotion and sacrifice. Viola, although in love with Orsino herself, helps him win Olivia's love “I will do my best / To woo your lady - (aside) Yet, an incredible conflict - / Whom I woo, I myself would be his wife. ”(1.4.40-42). In the first scene of act 5 Viola tells Orsino that she is willing to die for him "And I, very cheerful, suitable and willingly, / To make you rest, I would die a thousand deaths". (5.1.126-127). When Viola finally manages to clearly tell Orsino her true identity, she reaffirms her feelings for him, and now that Orsino knows she is a woman it has more meaning "Orsino: Boy, you told me a thousand times / You should never love the woman like me. Viola: And I will swear by all those words; / And those oaths remain true in the soul / Like that continental orbit continent of fire / That separates day from night" (5.1.258-264). It seems that Viola has found true love, but how