Essay on William Shakespeares Twelfth Night - 3268 Words

William Shakespeares Twelfth Night In Act 1, scenes 1-3, there are many ways to which these scenes provide an effective opening to the play. Individually, these scenes each serve a different aspect, which contributes to an effective opening. In Act 1, scene 1, Orsino is introduced into the picture, with his whining and pining towards this love for Olivia, with much exaggeration, due to the excessive use of imagery, and gives us one of the central theme of the play – transient and complex love. Act 1, scene 2 displays Viola and the Captain, and how Viola appears naà ¯ve, but is actually a strategist, and plans to disguise herself to get protection and also get closer to Orsino – causing a confusion†¦show more content†¦The poetry and music, the use of rich, sensuous imagery of beauty and nature, set a romantic tone of the play. This can be seen evidently from how he begins with ‘If music be the food of love, play on’. This line creates a mood that is suitable for what he is talki ng about – love. In addition, scene 1 is the introduction scene, in which we can gather many first impressions, be it for the characters, or the theme of the play. Hence, from scene 1, our first impression is formed that the main theme of this play is love that is uncertain, ever changing, unpredictable, fickle, inconstant and transient. This impression is formed from how Orsino is dependent on the mood and feels that the right atmosphere is integral to love. Henceforth, we get an implication that he is more in love with being in love than in love with Olivia, the real, true person, showing that love can change in the twinkle of an eye, an important point in respect to the theme of this play. In scene 1, we are also given an idea of the character traits of both Olivia and Orsino. This serves as an effective opening to the play as, the mood of the play is exaggerated and unrealistic. Hence, as both Olivia and Orsino are exaggerated people who indulge in their own feelings rather than genuine feelings for others and Orsino is one who is exaggerated in his use of language, with similes, puns, metaphors andShow MoreRelatedWilliam Shakespeares Twelfth Night Essay1146 Words   |  5 PagesWilliam Shakespeares Twelfth Night The use of genre in any literary work assist the responder in understanding the text, as prior knowledge and past experience are used by composers to construct certain expectations due to characteristics that are recognised. 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