Antonio is arguably the only character who shows love

I do adore thee so, that danger shall seem sport, and I will go

Antonio risking his life II.i.45

my willing love

Antonio personifying affections

my desire more sharp than filed steel did spur me forth

Antonio’s reasoning for following Sebastian

But O, how vile an idol proves this God

Antonio’s heartbreak when he thinks he has been betrayed

Emma Smith

relationship is actually romantic, compare the different uses of adore…

Lindsay Posner 2001 RSC

in II.i they share an unmade bed together

Oh, you are sick of self-love, Malvolio

Olivia’s calling out of Malvolio’s vanity

M.A.O.I … why, that begins my name!

Malvolio happily concludes that the letter is addressed to him, despite it lacking “consonancy”

Keir Elam

fatal narcissism

National Theatre 2017 starring Tamsin Grieg

delivers the final line of revenge in a placid way… psychopathic?

I’ll be revenged on the whole pack of you!

Malvolio’s final lines

Christopher Luscombe 2017 RSC

In Orsino’s opening monologue, he is painting Curio

Adrian Noble 1997 RSC

Orsino is surrounded by his servants in crushed velvet suits… quite effeminate

G.G. Gervinus

Orsino is “in love with love”

Schalkwyk

a lonely dreamer with an idealistic cast of mind

Gareth Lloyd Evans

Orsino’s “first speech has all the languid self indulgence of a man [who lives] in an illusion of love”

L.G. Salinger

the only constant feature of love is its instability