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How Does Viola Use Disguise In Twelfth Night

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In the play Twelfth Night Shakespeare characterizes Viola as resourceful and wise which helps her realize one of the central themes of the play, the dangers of deception. As a shipwrecked orphan with no guidance or protection, Viola knows that being an unattended women alone in the setting of this Shakespearean masterpiece can be very dangerous. Therefore, she makes the decision to disguise herself as a man by the name of Cesario to enable herself to have a man's freedom. “Conceal me what I am, and be my aid for such disguise as haply shall become the form of my intent. I'll serve this duke thou shall present me as an eunuch to him.” Her resourcefulness comes in play as she is able to recognise the captains integrity, as well practical enough to gather the resources and carry out her disguise. …show more content…

She does this by serving Orsino, The Duke of Illyria. She resolves, “I'll serve this duke. Thou shalt present me as an eunuch to him…” She choses to serve the Duke over Olivia because she feels that she can keep a better disguise with the Duke by being his personal musician because of her feminine voice. Viola also states that she can sing and play several instruments “It may be worth thy pains, for I can sing, And speak to him in many sorts of music, that will allow me very worth his service.” Orsino quickly comes to bond with Viola to such a point that he entrusts her to be his messenger to his beloved Olivia, the reclusive noble women who has so far rejected the duke’s plentiful advances. She has only just arrived and already she is in the inner circle. Viola performs this duty well, playing her role as Cesario so convincingly that Olivia falls in love with her, demonstrating a profound sense of dramatic irony for the

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