Twelfth Night By William Shakespeare

Love is arguably one of the most powerful emotions. It can change someone's life for better or for worse. In the 17th century play Twelfth Night by Shakespeare, all aspects of the character Olivia’s life are either directly or indirectly dominated by love to show how the intimacy of passion can enrapture and consume someone; lead them to madness or merriment.
There is a fine line between love and madness. Shakespeare emphasizes this in Twelfth Night when talking about all the men who love Oliva. When speaking about his love, Sebastian says, “And though ‘tis wonder that enwraps me thus/ Yet ‘tis not madness” (Act IV. iii. 3). His love demonstrates a healthy, passionate form of infatuation. Another favorable example of love is Malvolio’s feelings for Olivia. When the Fool confronts Malvolio about his feelings, Malvolio says, “I am as well in my wits, Fool, as thou art” (Act IV. ii. 92). The irony is that to many, Malvolio would be saying he has no wits, as he compares himself to the fool (the fool promptly points out his words). However, Shakespeare implies that Malvolio is actually of sound mind, as the fool is one of
A prime example of lust is the opening lines in the play, “If music be the food of love, play on/ Give me excess of it, that, surfeiting, / The appetite may sicken and so die” (Act I.i.1-3). The count compares his lust for Olivia to a desire for food, where he must have excess amounts so that his hunger can die off. Count Orsino also dehumanizes Olivia into no more than a puppet he wishes to manipulate, saying, “How will she love when the rich golden shaft / hath killed the flock of all affections else” (Act I. ii. 37-38). The count implies that with how much Olivia loves her brother, when she falls in love with him she will show dedication to no one else but him. Orsino’s words suggest that he wishes to exploit Olivia’s emotions so that he becomes her one and only