Twelfth Night

Text Guides

Scene-by-scene Analysis

Act 1 Scene 1

The Duke Orsino listens to music while languishing for the love of Olivia with his servants. The Duke’s wealth and high status are evident from his exclusive use of verse, the fact that the entire first scene is dedicated to him, and his elevated language. However, the connotations of the images he crafts suggest that Orsino isn’t actually in love with Olivia; rather, he is in love with the idea of love itself.

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