Student Essay on Comparing Orsino and Olivia in "Twelfth Night"

An overview of the similarities and differences of the characters Orisno and Olivia in William Shakespeare's play "Twelfth Night." Both characters are steeped in the melancholy of sentimental love to the point of being blinded by it, both suffer from the complexities of love, and both are forgiving individuals who are able to laugh at their foolishness. But Orsino takes a passive approach to the pursuit of love, whereas Olivia takes a more active role.

In every play, it is inevitable that the characteristics of some characters strongly parallel each other and Twelfth Night is no exception. The two characters, Orsino and Olivia, are stunningly similar and yet, are quietly different at the same time. For example both characters start off deluded, disillusioned, confused and steeped in the excesses of a self- indulgent love. They seem to be acting irrationally as a result of love, show some inconsistency and fall folly to their weaknesses. Despite these frailties, both characters are essentially good and noble- they run their estates efficiently and are able to learn from their mistakes. However, Orsino and Olivia take different approaches when it comes to handling the affairs of the heart.

To elaborate on the aforementioned points, both seemed to be steeped in the melancholy of sentimental love,.....