Point
Olivia cannot control her deep attraction to Cesario, which is based on feelings and emotions rather than practicality.
Evidence
‘There’s something in me that reproves my fault / But such a headstrong potent fault it is / That it but mocks reproof.’ (Olivia, 3:4)
Explanation
Even though 'Cesario' keeps telling Olivia 'he' cannot love her, Olivia refuses to accept this answer and keeps asking 'Cesario' to visit her again. She knows her pursuit of Cesario may be wrong but feels she can’t help herself. This reflects an idea of love in Shakespeare’s time that love was a random emotion, creating temporary madness, like being struck by one of Cupid’s arrows.
Point
Olivia values her independence. She does not dislike Orsino but wants a more equal relationship than she could have with him.
Evidence Select an option
‘She’ll none o’th’Count. She’ll not match above her degree, neither in estate, years, not wit. I have heard her swear’t’ (Sir Toby, 1:3)
‘Your lord does know my mind: I cannot love him. / Yet I suppose him virtuous, know him noble, / Of great estate, of fresh and stainless youth; / In voices well divulged, free, learned, and valiant, / And in dimension and the shape of nature, / A gracious person. But yet I cannot love him.’ (Olivia, 1:5)
‘My lord, so please you, these things further thought on, / To think me as well a sister as a wife, / One day shall crown th’allinace on’t, so please you, / Here at my house and at my proper cost.’ (Olivia, 5:1)
Explanation Click text to edit
Enter your explanation here
Point
Viola/Cesario speaks to Olivia as a person rather than an object of idealised love as Orsino does.
Evidence Click text to edit
Enter your evidence here.
Explanation Click text to edit
Enter your explanation here
Point Click text to edit
Enter your point here.
Evidence Click text to edit
Enter your evidence here.
Explanation Click text to edit
Enter your explanation here.