Question -- Essay-type
Introduction
Now let us discuss Shakespeare's treatment of various types of love in his "Twelfth Night"---
The Sentimental Love Of Orsino
The Aggressive Love Of Olivia
The Conceited Love Of Malvolio
The Stupid Love Of Aguecheek
Aguecheek also provides a good quantity of humour. He thinks that the love-goal can be reached by spending money. Though he does not get even a single chance of talking with his beloved, yet he thinks that he is nearing his destination.
Sir Toby's tastes do not have any affinity with the tastes of others. He loves wandering, eating, drinking, amusing and befooling. He discerns that Maria is the queen of mischief mongers. He falls in love with her. Therefore, his love is rightly named as folly-fallen love.
His love has been named as a practical love, but it should have been named as opportunistic love. As soon as he finds Olivia at his feet, he picks her up. He talks little and asks little to satisfy his anxieties. He never tries to know the facts, because he is afraid that he should lose a fine wife.
Her love is the kind of love which Shakespeare always advocates. Since she is the heroine of the play, this type of love was expected from her only. Her love is silent and idolatry. It is based upon devotion and sacrifice. This ideal type of love always has an unshakable confidence in its success and believes in concealment rather than revelation-
"She never told her love, but let concealment, like a worm 'i th' bud, feed on her damask cheek."
And moreover such love finds satisfaction while it sits :
She sat like patience on a monument,
Smiling at grief..."
Conclusion
Though there are various types of love in the play, these different types of love have a common quality. All lovers love at first sight. In the climate of romance, it is the rule that all the lovers shall love at once and love absolutely. Nothing else in this world is to be permitted. One glance at Olivia and no work is expected from Orsino for sometime to come. Olivia succubus in one interview. Viola falls in love with the Duke at first sight. Sebastian falls in love with Olivia at first sight. All these remind us of the line--
Similar Questions
1️⃣ Shakespeare presents love in rich variety. By close reference to the play, show the different kinds of love presented in "Twelfth Night".
2️⃣ Consider "Twelfth Night" as a striking dissertation on the subject of love, representing the main element of love and many distinct types of lovers.
3️⃣ In "Twelfth Night" there are as many variations on the theme of love as there are characters.