Role Of Viola In Twelfth Night
In Act 3, Viola is still disguised as Cesario. Viola literally disguises herself as Cesario in order to be taken seriously in society and to be able to continue to live on her own. Viola is trying to protect herself from the wrath of society as being a single woman in society. Viola also disguises herself in a more figurative way when she tells the story of a woman who loved a man so much that she was willing to do anything to gain his love, even if it meant dying. In actuality, this anecdote is a reflection of Viola, protecting her from telling the real story so that she does not get hurt. Furthermore, Malvolio has begun to disguise himself as a new man in order to win the heart of Olivia. As Maria has written the letter to Malvolio in order to trick him, he believes it is Olivia's true confession of her love to him and he begins to do all of the things Olivia likes. Malvolio is disguising his true self in order to portray what he believes he should be. Many of the characters are all trying to disguise themselves in order to gain the love of the ones they have fallen for causing them to have a struggle for identity because they are fighting the battle between their true selves and what they believe the ones they love want. Identity becomes a vital role in this play because in order to love someone else, you must truly know and love your own self.