Viola’s internal thoughts and emotions

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
I left no ring with her. What means this lady?
Fortune forbid my outside have not charmed her!
She made good view of me, indeed so much
That methought her eyes had lost her tongue,
For she did speak in starts distractedly.
She loves me sure! The cunning of her passion
Invites me in this churlish messenger.
None of my lord’s ring? Why, he sent her none!
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.
How easy is it for the proper false
In women’s waxen hearts to set their forms!
Alas, [our] frailty is the cause, not we,
For such as we are made of, such we be.
How will this fadge? My master loves her dearly,
And I, poor monster, fond as much on him,
And she, mistaken, seems to dote on me.
What will become of this? As I am man,
My state is desperate for my master’s love.
As I am woman, (now alas the day!),
What thriftless sights shall poor Olivia breathe!
O Time, thou must untangle this, not I.
It is too hard a knot for me t’ untie.

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, disguised as Cesario, reflects on her encounter with Olivia. Through a close reading of the language, we can gain insights into Viola’s internal thoughts and emotions, as well as the complexities of the relationships and predicaments she finds herself in.

Word Choice:
Viola’s use of words reveals her confusion and uncertainty. For example, she questions, “What means this lady?” and wonders if her external appearance has charmed Olivia. This conveys her surprise at Olivia’s sudden interest in her.
She refers to Olivia’s actions as “cunning of her passion,” suggesting that Olivia’s love for her is not genuine but rather a result of infatuation or deception.
Viola also uses the word “disguise” to describe her own actions, indicating that she recognizes the inherent deceit in her disguise as Cesario.
Dynamics and Sounds:
The text indicates that Olivia spoke “in starts distractedly.” This suggests a hesitant and disjointed manner of speaking, which may be reflected in the performance through pauses, stammering, or a faster pace to indicate Olivia’s scattered thoughts and emotions.
The phrase “she were better love a dream” features alliteration with the repeated “l” sound. This creates a rhythmic quality that emphasizes Viola’s realization that Olivia’s love for her is misguided.
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 Viola’s inner turmoil.
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 realization that Olivia loves her instead of Duke Orsino propels the action forward by introducing a new layer of complication and misunderstanding.
The phrase “she seems to dote on me” suggests that Viola recognizes Olivia’s infatuation but also acknowledges that it is based on mistaken identity.
Viola’s acknowledgement that her disguise is a form of wickedness reveals her internal struggle between loyalty to her master and her growing affection for him.
Historical Context:
Researching historical meanings and references can provide deeper insights into the language used. For example, understanding the concept of “frailty” in Elizabethan society helps us grasp Viola’s comment that women’s hearts are easily deceived by false appearances.
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 thoughts, emotions, and predicaments. Through word choice, dynamics, sounds, and the distinction between prose and verse, we gain insights into her internal struggles, the complexities of her relationships, and the challenges posed by her disguise. By researching historical meanings and references, we can further enrich our understanding and interpretation of the text.

 

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