In Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, the characters appear to view love as a curse. Most of the characters think of love as a force that affects its victims wildly. The characters in Twelfth Night suffer from being in love - whether it is the force itself or the fact that their lovers do not reciprocate the same feelings. Orsino even refers to his feelings of love as "fell and cruel hounds." Furthermore, Olivia refers to these feelings as a type of plague. In addition, at another point Orsino refers to love as an appetite that he must fulfill, however, he is unable to.
I do not wholeheartedly agree with Shakespeare’s view on love. I see love as a feeling that two people share together – a feeling that grows, or, in some cases, a connection that naturally exists. I do not think it is a curse – after all, without love, life is like the seasons with no summer. I do, however, agree with the view of Shakespeare’s characters when they state that love is a force that affects its victims wildly. Love is unpredictable – but isn’t that the beauty of it? I suppose that unreciprocated love could serve as a type of plague haunting its victims. This view could also apply to Orsino’s appetite that he is unable to fulfill.
I believe that all of Shakespeare’s views of love that he presents in Twelfth Night are all plausible ideas; however, I feel that at times they intersect with my own views. For the sake of drama, Shakespeare’s characters do not appear to accept the reality that their love will not be fulfilled. Rather, the characters attempt to control what is happening. They appear to attempt to change each other’s feelings – an act that I feel is impossible.
I believe that love is divine – at least true love. It is a feeling that is naturally already there. Love is when two forces combine to create one unique force.
In Twelfth Night, the characters attempt to make these forces combine. I believe that is impossible.
However, I do agree that at times love can act as a plague. It is undoubtedly at times, as Orsino states, an appetite that cannot be fulfilled. Therefore, I do agree with these aspects of love that are presented in Twelfth Night. Love can be cruel, but I think it is cruel for a reason. There’s a sense of glory that comes with love.
Therefore, while I do not agree wholeheartedly with the ideas of love presented in Twelfth Night, I do agree with some aspects. I don’t agree with Shakespeare’s characters thinking that they can force love upon one another. In the words of Bonnie Raitt, “I can’t make you love me.” Some things in life are not able to be controlled. Just like the seasons of the year, love comes and goes. It affects its victims wildly, happening at times when least expected. Love does act as an appetite that can never be fulfilled, however, once it is, its true power is realized.
