In the Play Twelfth Night one of the most obvious themes of the play to be explored is the theme of love.Each of the major characters finds love or is searching for it. Shakespeare use the characters to demonstrate and explore different types of love, along with the trouble love can cause.

In the opening scene of the play the Duke expresses his feelings of love

" If music be the food of love play on, give me excess of it, that , surfeiting, The appetite may sicken and so die ......"

It appears form this quote that Orsino is in love with the idea of being in love. His speech is full of melodramatic words which show that he is over indulgent of love. His feelings of love for Olivia are so intense that he seems overwhelmed by his thoughts of her. As Orsino feels so fanatical about pursuing Olivia, you could claim that he is obsessed with her. The Duke is drawn to an emotion which he believes is love. In doing so he has created a false image of her and so really is in love with an illusion that he puts Olivia's name to. Orsino does not seem to know Olivia's personality. The Duke is drawn to Olivia because of what she can offer her status wealth and beauty " O when mine ey

His single minded attitude causes him to have delusions about Olivia reciprocating his feelings. The forged letter merely chimes with this egotistical fantasy. Malvolio often hints of his lustful feelings towards Olivia, which indicates that he does not have many caring loving feelings towards her.

This shows how prepared people are to love and be loved in Twelfth Night.Though Sebastian does not know Olivia, he shows little caution or questioning to why this woman is so infatuated and impulsive towards him. He recognises that this is quite a strange occurrence but still is prepared to rush and get married to Olivia. One reason why he acts like this is because of the physical attraction he feels to Olivia. This again demonstrates confusing love with physical attraction in Twelfth Night.

This statement seems quite accurate as Malvolio is convinced that he is the object of Olivia's desires. Malvolio deceives himself to suit his perspective on the situation between himself and Olivia.

"If Sir Toby would leave drinking, though wert as witty as a piece of Eve's flesh in Ilyria"

" Having come from a day bed, where i have left Olivia sleeping......" He desires Olivias sensuality.

that no man is worthy of her beauty.

demonstrates how love or infatuation can blind someone so that they no longer see reality. In the end though he find a more realistic love, he demonstrates falling in love with the soul in Twelfth night.

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Approximate Word count = 2175
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page double spaced)