Twelfth Night: questions and answers (Part

Twelfth Night

-William Shakespeare

D.A.Q. ( 5 Marks)

Question: Why was Viola eager to meet Orsino and serve him?

Answer: After the shipwreck Viola was brought to the unknown land of Illyria. She feared she lost her brother. The captain of the ship assured her that he was still alive. Now Viola was curious of the ruler of the foreign country. She learnt that it was governed by a Duke named Orsino. He was a noble man.

Anyway, the name Orsino was known to her. For her father once mentioned the name. She had also known that Orsino had been a bachelor the. The captain told her that the Duke was not all happy. He sought the love of a lovely countess Olivia. But Olivia shunned human sight after her brother’s death. The death of her brother deeply affected her mind. She lost all charms of life. She kept herself confined in her palace. Obviously, the Duke was rejected. This made the Duke melancholy. Viola herself felt the agony of separation from her brother. The story of Olivia made her unhappy. She wanted to serve her.

The captain told Viola that Olivia would not allow her in her house. Then Viola changed her plan. She was eager to meet Orsino. Her first aim was to make the Duke cheerful. She thought that the Duke’s assistance might help her to reach at Olivia. Secondly, Viola was worried about her own safety. She was a young lady of uncommon beauty. She was alone in a strange land. Naturally she sought the best protection for herself. All these led Viola come in close contact with Duke Orsino.

Question: Why did Olivia reject Orsino as her suitor?

Answer: Olivia was the daughter of a count. The count died. Olivia was left in the protection of her brother. Unfortunately, she lost her brother too. Olivia was left alone. She had none to look after her. Her brother’s death was a heavy blow to her. She lost all charms in her life. She abjured the sight and company of men. She allows none in her palace. She kept herself confined in her house always. She could no longer stand human company. That is why she rejected Orsino as her suitor. In fact out of deep distress and despair due to her loving brother’s death Olivia created a no man’s land for herself.

Question: How was Orsino affected by the rejection of marriage proposal from Olivia?

Answer: The Duke was madly in love with Olivia. He had long been cherishing the desire of having her as his wife. But Olivia ruthlessly turned down his proposal. The rejection deeply mortified the Duke. Life became meaningless to him. He passed his days in ‘ignoble sloth’. He only listened to the effeminate sounds of soft music, gentle airs and passionate love songs. He withdrew himself totally from the company of the wise and learned lords. In fact, he developed a strong aversion to the normal course of life. He had a feeling that no woman could sense the passion and fury of her man’s love. The Duke made several attempts to win the love of Olivia. But he was unable to break the self-imposed shield of Olivia. The Duke was only left to lament his unrequited love.

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