Both men and women pay effort for love in the play of Twelfth night. Their effort includes taking actions and expressing the feeling of love. However, the differences in the degree of effort suggest that women's love is more passionate. Passion means the showing of intense love or strong feelings. The statement of 'women's love is more passionate' can be explained by comparing men and women's effort paid.
Viola and Olivia are the main female characters involved in the plot of love. Viola, a deeply passionate young woman pays great effort for her love, Orsino. Her effort can be observed in two aspects. The first one is her loyalty in serving Orsino. Disguised as Cesario, she presents herself as a responsible messenger of Duke Orsino. Her unselfish and sincere love makes her put Orsino's interest before her own. Act I sc IV 39-41 'I'll do my best /to woo your lady.
English: Scene from "Twelfth Night," Act III IV, w...
A Scene from Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare:...
Frederick Richard Pickersgill painting of Orsino a...Yet a barful strife! Whoever I woo, myself would be his wife.' She promises to try her best to win Olivia's love for Orsino. In Act I sc V 210-211 'with adorations, fertile tears...' Viola unselfishly tells Olivia the so called passion of Orsino; 240-242 ' my master, not myself, lacks recompense...' Viola tells Olivia about Orsino's lovesickness and sufferings due to unrequited love. She hopes Olivia will accept and she can complete his master's mission. In Act II sc II 33-34, 'As I am man/my state is desperate for my master's love.' in Act III sc I 90-91 ' Madam, I come to whet your gentle thoughts on his behalf.' And in Act III sc IV 180 'your true love for my master.' It shows that she knows her duty and responsibility clearly despite her strong desire of being in love with Orsino.
The second...