How Does Shakespeare Present The Different Types Of Love In Twelfth Night

Shakespeare once said “Love looks not with eyes, but with the mind, and therefore is winged Cupid painted blind.” William Shakespeare not only makes us realize the true meaning of love, but also how love itself is characterized. In the play Twelfth Night, Shakespeare demonstrates three main types of love: True love, courtly love and profitable love. For instance, Viola’s hidden love for Duke Orsino is incomparable to Duke’s self-indulgence and love for Olivia or to Sir Toby’s “friendship” with Sir Andrew. Shakespeare depicts different types of love, however, only true love is enduring out of all three.

Viola resorts herself by hiding her feelings of love from the duke instead of sharing them. No matter how much it pains Viola to woo Olivia on Duke Orsino’s behalf, her loyalty for him is a strong sign of their endearing friendship. While Viola heads her way to court Olivia, she wistfully says to herself, “Yet a barful strife! Whoe’er I woo, myself should be his wife”( Shakespeare 1.4. 42-43). This can relate to Viola, when and she willingly goes through grief by wooing Olivia for the duke’s sake, only to achieve his contentment and pleasures. Viola’s feelings for the
Due to Viola’s disguise, it complicates things further when she unintentionally makes Olivia fall for her,