Monday, July 15, 2013

What are the different kinds of love (i.e. loving oneself) explored by Shakespeare in the play Twelfth Night?

The different kinds of love include loving oneself (Malvolio being a good example) and loving others, but with regards to loving others, I think there are a variety of different loves seen throughout the play.

There is the "love from afar" that Duke Orsino feels for Olivia - one that ends up not standing the test of time...a fleeting crush, so to speak.  There is the familial love of Viola for her brother, Sebastian, who she assumes has died at sea.  We see that same type of love with Olivia's decision to remain in mourning for her dead brother for seven years.

There is also the love a servant holds for his master - Antonio decides to follow Sebastian to help him, despite the threat of death he's under for returning to Illyria.

Finally, there is the "love to end all loves" - the romantic love which we find in happy endings.  Olivia and Sebastian pair up, while Orsino and Viola are a match as well.  And "all's well that ends well"!

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