The nature of love and questioning Orsino’s feelings for Olivia

by | Oct 21, 2023 | art

The passage listed below and perform a close reading that demonstrates not only your understanding of the text, but what it reveals to you about how to interpret the exchange on stage.
Take the skills that you have acquired through close reading Wedding Band and apply them to the Shakespearean language. Pay attention to elements of the language: word choice, dynamics (when does the text indicate increase in speed, pauses, etc.), sounds (kinds of consonants and vowels), and whether it is prose or verse – and if verse, what kind (and why does the distinction matter). How does a word, a sound, a phrase propel the action? What do the words reveal? What do they hide?
Make sure to look up words/ phrases/ references to get their full, historical meanings. Do research beyond the given textual notes, if appropriate.
Feel free to look at clips from various productions for performance ideas, but do not copy them directly. As long as you stay true and close to the text, this is an opportunity to display creativity in revealing subtext and possible stagings.
PASSAGE:
VIOLA
But if she cannot love you, sir—
ORSINO
I cannot be so answered.
VIOLA
Sooth, but you must.
Say that some lady, as perhaps there is,
Hath for your love as great a pang of heart
As you have for Olivia. You cannot love her;
You tell her so. Must she not then be answered?
ORSINO
There is no woman’s sides
Can hide the beating of so strong a passion
As love doth give my heart; no woman’s heart
So big, to hold so much; they lack retention.
Alas, their love may be called appetite,
No motion of the liver but the palate,
That suffer surfeit, cloyment, and revolt;
But mine is all as hungry as the sea,
And can digest as much. Make no compare
Between that love a woman care bear me
And that I owe Olivia.
VIOLA
Aye, but I know—
ORSINO
What dost thou know?

 

 

Sample solution

Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell. 

In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.


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God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.

Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.

To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.

 

References

Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.

Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.

Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.

Sample Answer

Sample Answer

In this passage from Shakespeare’s play “Twelfth Night,” Viola engages in a conversation with Duke Orsino, discussing the nature of love and questioning Orsino’s feelings for Olivia. Through a close reading of the language, we can gain insights into the characters’ emotions, their contrasting perspectives on love, and the hidden truths beneath their words.

Word Choice:
Viola uses the word “answered” to express the idea that Orsino must respond to her argument. This implies a sense of urgency and insistence in her tone, emphasizing her determination to make her point.
Orsino’s use of the word “pang” suggests a sharp and intense feeling of love, emphasizing the emotional depth of his affection for Olivia.
The phrase “they lack retention” reveals Orsino’s belief that women are unable to contain or control their emotions as strongly as men can.
Dynamics and Sounds:
The text does not indicate specific dynamics or sounds, leaving room for interpretation. However, the back-and-forth nature of the dialogue suggests a quick-paced exchange, possibly with rising tension as the characters challenge each other’s perspectives.
The repetition of the “l” sounds in the phrase “lack retention” creates a rhythmic quality and draws attention to Orsino’s belief about women’s emotional capacity.
Prose or Verse:
This passage is written in verse, specifically iambic pentameter. The use of verse signifies a heightened emotional state or significant moments in the play.
The consistent rhythm of iambic pentameter adds a musical quality to the dialogue, enhancing the poetic and dramatic effect of the characters’ exchange.
The distinction between prose and verse matters because it allows the actors to emphasize certain lines or words, creating dramatic tension and drawing attention to significant moments.
Propelling the Action and Revealing Hidden Meanings:
Viola’s argument challenges Orsino’s perspective by suggesting that if another woman were to feel the same depth of love for him as he does for Olivia, he would not be able to dismiss her feelings.
Orsino’s response reveals his belief in the intensity of his own love for Olivia. He argues that women cannot match his level of passion and that their love is merely driven by appetite or desire.
The conversation between Viola and Orsino propels the action by highlighting the contrasting views on love and setting up the potential for Viola’s unrequited feelings for Orsino to become a significant plot point.
Historical Context:
Researching historical meanings and references can provide deeper insights into the language used. For example, understanding the concept of women lacking “retention” in Shakespearean times helps us grasp Orsino’s belief in men’s emotional superiority.
Exploring the historical context can also shed light on societal expectations and gender roles, adding layers of interpretation to the text.

In conclusion, a close reading of this passage from “Twelfth Night” allows us to delve into Viola’s and Orsino’s perspectives on love. Through word choice, dynamics, sounds, and the distinction between prose and verse, we gain insights into their emotions and contrasting beliefs. By researching historical meanings and references, we can further enrich our understanding of the characters’ viewpoints. This passage sets up tensions and conflicts that will drive the plot forward while revealing hidden truths about love, gender roles, and societal expectations.

 

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