Viola portrays herself as a boy for the simple reason to win Duke Orsino's affection. This easily creates a variety of comedic moments from the play. From the moment that the Duke and Cesario share that was witnessed by the Fool. Viola realizes that she is treated with a certain... respect that she realizes that women don't have. In the first Act, after visiting Olivia for the first time, she realizes this. Maybe it's the allure of being a completely different person, or something else, but her response to being treated as a man is generally positive.
Shakespeare's political commentary by making a man, play a woman, playing a man in the 1600's was most certainly a form of social rebellion. I don't think this challenges the norms of today's life in any major way, but most certainly was a talking point back then. Like the quote from Orsino:
ORSINO
Dear lad, believe it;
For they shall yet belie thy happy years
That say thou art a man. Diana's lip
Is not more smooth and rubious, thy small pipe
Is as the maiden's organ, shrill and sound,
And all is semblative a woman's part. (1.4.32-37)
This is a strangely... descriptive analysis of Cesario's girlish attributes. He seems to be attracted to this, and consequently makes us question our own personal attractions.
Orsino says that women can't love to the same extent as a man. This is completely false if you look at the text. Especially if you think that Orsino actually loved Olivia, or was just in love with the idea of loving her. Cesario / Viola was absolutely in love with Orsino, and Olivia was absolutely in love with Cesario / Viola. I don't think women have any less capacity to love in this play than men.
Belch convinces Auguecheek to fight Cesario so he thinks he has a chance with Olivia. His "manliness" would increase were he to defeat Cesario in the duel. This suggests that Belch's idea of being a "man" included being more skillfully or physically inclined.
Belch convinces Auguecheek to fight Cesario so he thinks he has a chance with Olivia. His "manliness" would increase were he to defeat Cesario in the duel. This suggests that Belch's idea of being a "man" included being more skillfully or physically inclined.
Dylan, I agree with your answers to the questions completely. One thing that you said that I thought was kind of interesting was your first sentence. I'm not sure if the only reason Viola portrays herself as a boy is so that she can win the affection of Duke Orsino, but the more that I've thought about it I can understand that as being a reason to do so. Overall, I think you did a great job on this blog. You provided textual evidence when needed and supported yourself well throughout the majority. There's little I can find to be critical of than maybe lessening up on your opinions just slightly but other than that it's gold. Good job my man.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your textual evidence which led your blog to appearing more organized and chronological. I disagree with your first sentence though, I believe that Viola's gender bending was a rebirth for her to enable her to be able to be respected as a man rather than how she was previously treated and disrespected as a woman. Good post!
ReplyDeleteI agree that manliness was what brought Asscheek to fight Cesario, but it was Cesario's feminism that brought Olivia to "love" Cesario. Great blog, Brown.
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