Twelfth Night - Viola

Which descriptors can be used about Viola? (15 terms)

Ingenious, intelligent, romantic, poetic, lyrical, passionate, brave, valiant, courageous, deluded, dreamer, idealist, patient, determined, forbearing

What is Viola a construct of? (2 points)

Performed Gender and Female Power

Who does Viola serve to teach the true nature of love?

Olivia and Orsino

How does Viola teach Orsino the true nature of love?

When Orsino had feelings for Olivia, he merely had desire for her (his love was performative because he did not understand the true nature of love. However, when Orsino develops feelings for Viola, despite her lower social status, he is willing to subvert standards relating to social hierarchies to be with her.

How does Viola teach Olivia the true nature of love?

Olivia falls in love with Viola and even for her more feminine qualities, indicating that true love isn't always heterosexual.

How does Viola show the true constancy of familial love?

Viola mourns her brother throughout the play, even taking on his appearance as both a physical manifestation of and way of dealing with her grief. Viola and Sebastian showcase how familial love is the truest and most constant form of love.

How does Viola's presentation of familial love contrast with Olivia?

Viola's presentation of familial love contrasts with Olivia who presents her grief in a performative manner - not going outside for "seven years heat", refusing to seen and "water[ing] once a day her chamber round with eye offending brine".

What is the significance of Sebastian and Viola's reunion in showing the true constancy of love?

When Viola and Sebastian reunite, the love triangle which represents human complexity is solved. This indicates that true constancy in love lies within familial love.

How is Viola's role to show that identity is a fluid concept?

Viola showcases that identity is a fluid concept through her changing identity in the three parts of the narrative structure of the play.

How does Viola show identity is fluid at the beginning of the play?

At the beginning of the play, Viola is a sorrowful woman, mourning the loss of her brother proclaiming "And what should I do in Illyria, my brother he is in Elysium". Viola represents stereotypes about women as being hysterical and overly emotional at this point. However, she quickly becomes resourceful and intelligent (switching these stereotypes on their head) through which she becomes Cesario, showing how identity is fluid.

How does Viola show that identity is fluid in the middle of the play?

In the middle of the play Viola is depicted as looking exactly like her brother, taking on Sebastian's identity in order to handle her grief but also to disguise herself in a world ridden with patriarchal ideas. Though Viola is presented as being able to be resourceful and intelligent, which are typically male attributes, she is presented as having some more feminine attributes (especially in terms of appearance), which shows how her identity is fluid as she is able to switch between presenting as both genders.

How is Viola presented at the end of the play in terms of the fluidity of identity?

At the end of the play, Viola returns to her original self, refusing to embrace Sebastian until she has been rid of this "masculine usurped attire" indicating that she no longer needs to mask her identity as her grief is over.

How does Shakespeare use Viola to comment on emotion and identity?

Through Viola, Shakespeare showcases that our emotional response can influence our identity heavily.

How is Viola's role to show performed gender?

Viola is a symbol of performed gender, showcasing that male and female are both performed constructs created by society

How does Viola showcase typically male attributes?

Viola showcases typically male attributes such as intelligence and rationality, and it is noted by other characters such as when Sebastian says that "she bore a mind that envy could not but call fair". Viola is also depicted as being brave through her transformation.

How does Viola showcase the fluidity of gender when her appearance turns to that of a male?

Though Viola presents as a man her femininity remains - "all is semblative a woman's part" showcasing how she can present as both male and female. However, it is notable that Shakespeare has Viola be able to assume the role of being a man within society; she says she is a man, so she is a man (a progressive idea).

How does Viola's gender still showcase feminine attributes?

Though Viola presents as a man, her more feminine attributes still seep through, as recognised by other characters like Malvolio - "tis a peascod or a codling when 'tis almost an apple".

Give a quote from Malvolio in Act 1, Scene 5 that suggests Viola is androgynous.

"in standing water between boy and man"

How does Feste's song suggest that Viola is andogynous?

In Feste's song he describes a "true love's coming That can sing both high and low". This creates an androgynous image and suggests that gender is not fixed; she can sing both high and low meaning she can perform her gender either way.

What does Shakespeare use Viola to say about gender?

Shakespeare uses Viola to suggest that gender is fluid and does not necessarily refer to the sexual organs we are born with.

How does Judi Dench present Viola in Act 2, Scene 2?

Serious, speaks directly to the audience and shares her feelings, shocked upon realising that Olivia loves her, sorrowful in the "I am the man" segment, seems agonisingly frustrated about the situation; speaks sorrowfully about Olivia + pities her and herself for being trapped in this situation

What is Viola's role in the love triangle?

Viola acts as the middle of the sexually fluid love triangle, teaching Orsino and Olivia about the true constancy of love and the fluidity of sexuality.

What is Viola's role to show ideas about the presentation of women?

Viola is a construct of female intelligence and power - used to show that women are equally capable as men of dominance, bravery and intellect - turning stereotypical ideas about femininity on its head in this topsy-turvy play.

What is Viola's role in reference to melancholy and grief?

Viola showcases the poignancy of true grief through her melancholic feelings towards her loss of Sebastian, especially through taking on parts of his identity (perhaps to not lose her memories of him).

What is Viola's role in reference to gender?

Viola serves as a construct of gender fluidity and androgyny in order to showcase that gender is a construct rather than necessarily being reliant upon the sexual organs we are born with.

What is Viola's role in reference to sexuality?

Viola serves to highlight the sexual feelings of both Orsino and Olivia in the play, depicted to be unrestrained by the construct of gender, and to highlight that heterosexual norms are not accurate for all people.

Give four quotes from Viola in Act 1, Scene 2.

- "perchance"

- "And what should I do in Illyria? My brother, he is in Elysium."

- "might not be delivered to the world"

- "Nature with a beauteous wall doth oft close in pollution"

Give two quotes from Viola from Act 1, Scene 4.

- "[aside] Yet a barful strife whoe'er I woo myself would be his wife"

- "by the very fangs of malice, I swear - I am not that I play"

Give one quote from Viola from Act 1, Scene 5.

"by the very fangs of malice, I swear - I am not that I play"

Give five quotes from Viola from Act 2, Scene 2.

- "I am the man. If it be so, as 'tis, Poor Lady she were better love a dream."

- "Disguise I see thou art a wickedness wherein the pregnant enemy does much."

- "proper false In women's waxen hearts"

- "O time, thou must untangle this, not I. It is too hard a knot for me t'untie."

- "speak in starts, distractedly [...] eyes had lost her tongue"

Give two quotes from Viola from Act 2, Scene 4.

- "a blank my lord [...] let concealment like a worm i'th'bud feed at her damask cheek"

- "I am all the daughters of my father's house, and all the brothers too"

Give five quotes from Viola from Act 3, Scene 1.

- "Then you think right: I am not what I am"

- "I am almost sick for one though I would not have it grow on my chin"

- "For folly that he wisely shows is fit, But wise men, folly fallen, quite taint their wit"

- "Cesario is your servant's name, fair princess"

- "And that no women had, nor never none"

Give two Viola quotes from Act 3, Scene 4.

- "He named Sebastian. I my brother know Yet living in my glass."

- "Tempests are kind and salt waves fresh in love!"

Give two Viola quotes from Act 5, Scene 1.

- "masculine usurped attire, Do not embrace me until each circumstance"

- "After him I love More than I love these eyes, more than my life, More by all mores than e'er I shall love wife"