Twelfth Night and Its Double Plot

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THTR301 Essay for Final Exam 5/20/2015 Twelfth Night and its Double Plot Shakespeare’s play exemplifies love dilemmas by combining two inter-related plots that contradict and complement each other. The major plot involves the courtship and love dilemmas of Duke Orsino, Lady Olivia, and Viola. The subplot focuses on the merriments and hilarious interactions of Sir Toby, Sir Andrew, Maria, and Malvolio. In the first plot, Viola is involved in a shipwreck and believes that his twin brother is dead. In a conversation with the captain, she learns of the courtship between Orsino and Olivia. She decides to work for Olivia, but since Olivia is mourning, Viola seeks employment at Orsino's household disguised as a man and using the name, Cesario. However, Cesario falls in love with Orsino but fears revealing her identity. Orsino uses Cesario to entice Olivia, but the she falls in love with Cesario. In the second plot, Malvolio works for Olivia and mistreats the other workers. However, he believes that he is in love with Olivia. The second plot complements the first one because of the shared interests in Olivia. In both plots, the characters are interested in Lady Olivia and attempt to win her heart. Orsino’s marriage expectations are already known across the region. Additionally, Olivia’s uncle, Toby, brings Sir Andrew to her household so that he could ask her hand in marriage. Malvolio was secretly attracted to Olivia, and he was trying to use Cesario to intervene on his behalf. The two scenes share the theme of love, and it amplifies the author's intentions. Both focus on the same girl, Olivia. The contradicting event occurs when Malvolio receives fake letters purporting Olivia’s love for him. The subplot deviates from the sequence and themes of the major plot. The characters engage in an entirely different venture. It creates misconceptions of Malvolio’s intentions
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