12th Night : Olivia Flashcards
Mourning and Excess
“But from her handmaid do return this answer:..”
“The element itself till seven year’s heat shall not behold her face at ample view, … she will vieled walk.”
- Valentine, Act 1, Scene 1
Mourning and Excess
Enter Olivia in…
black dress and viel
Mourning and Excess
What sounds when Olivia enters the stage in the 2012 Globe Theatre production of Twelfth Night?
Death Knells
Moirning and Excess
“Let him send no more/ …”
“Unless, perchance, you come to me again”.
- Olivia Act 1, Scene 5
Excess and Mourning
(Feste) “As there is no true cuckold but calamity …”
“so beauty’s a flower.”
- Feste Act 1, Scene 5
Feste is saying that Calamity is a cuckold because no one can stay married to it forever; no matter what terrible thing has happened to you, eventually you will fall out of love with your grief and get on with life. Also, the time for Olivia to get on with her life is now, because “beauty’s a flower,” which buds, blooms, fades, and dies. Oliva is beautiful, and it will be a shame if she doesn’t enjoy life while she is in bloom
Excess and Mourning + Love and Desire
“Even so quickly may one catch…”
“the plague? Methinks I feel this youth’s perfections with an invisible and subtle stealth to creep in at mine eyes.”
Love as a cause of suffering
“Poor lady…”
“She were better love a dream”.
- Viola Act 2 Scene 2
Love as a cause of suffering
“As I am a woman, now, alas the day…”
“what thriftless sighs shall poor Olivia breahte?”
- Viola Act 2, Scene 2
Love and Desire
“I bade you never speak again of him. But would you undertake another suit …”
“I had rather hear you solicit to that than music from the spheres.”
- Olivia Act 3, Scene 1
Love and Desire - Olivia the lesbian
“Thy…”
“tongue” - Olivia Act 1, Scene 5
The first thing that Olivia compliments is Viola’s tongue (her words), therefore it can be argued that it is not Viola’s appearance that made her love her but her words.
Love as a cause of suffering
“Have you not set mine honour at the stake…”
“and baited it with all th’unmuzzled thoughts that tyrannous hearts can think?”
- Olivia Act 3, Scene 1
Love and Desire + Love as a cause of suffering
“Stay - / I prithee …”
“tell me what thou think’st of me.”
- Olivia Act 3, Scene 1
Love and Desire + Love as a cause of suffering
“I love thee so that maugre all thy pride…”
“nor wit, no reason can my passion hide.”
- Olivia Act 3, Scene 1
Series of rhyming couplets.
Excess and Mourning
“Where is Malvolio?…”
“He is sad and civil, and suits well for a servant with my fortunes.”
- Olivia Act 3, Scene 4
Excess + Mourning (madness)
“I am as mad as he…”
“if sad and merry madness equal be.”
- Olivia Act 3, Scene 4
