| ‘Give me excess of it, that surfeiting/ The appetite may sicken and so die.’ | 1.1.2-3 Orsino-Love as an appetite that can be fulfilled by excess |
| ‘Methought she purged the air of pestilence.’ | 1.1.19 Orsino-Sweet smelling |
| ‘That instant was I turned into a hart.’ | 1.1.20-3 Orsino-Malapropism |
| ‘When liver, brain and heart,/ These sovereign thrones, are all supplied, and filled/ Her sweet perfections with one self King! | 1.1.36-8 OrsinoLiver=PassionBrain=ThoughtHeart=Sentiment |
| ‘I have unclasped/ To thee the book even of my secret soul.’ | 1.4.14-5 Orsino-Suggest intimacy-Only been three days |
| ‘Diana’s lip/ Is not more smooth and rubious./ Thy small pipe/ Is as the maiden’s organ, shrill and sound,/ And all is semblative a woman’s part.’ | 1.4.31-4 Orsino-Dramatic irony-Increases gender confusion-Romantic undertones |
| ‘Our fancies are more giddy and unfirm.’ | 2.4.33 Orsino-Men need young women to maintain romantic interest |
| ‘No woman’s heart/ So big to hold so much – they lack retention.’ | 2.4.95-6 Orsino-Paradoxically, Orsino expresses the complete opposite view to which he claimed before |
| ‘But mine is all as hungry as the sea.’ | 2.4.100-1 Orsino-Metaphor comparing to the sea to emphasise capacity for love-Bathos |
| ‘Here comes the countess; now heaven walks on earth.’ | 5.1.93 Orsino-Returns to adulatory style of speech-Contrast rough language used towards Olivia later in the scene. Serves to support his rapid changes of emotion |
| ‘I’ll sacrifice the lamb that I do love.’ | 5.1.126 Orsino-Admits love for Viola whilst still as Cesario-Suspects Cesario’s betrayal and turn ferocious |
| ‘One face, one voice, one habit and two persons.’ | 5.1.213 Orsino-Twins on stage together-Compares to an optical illusion |
| ‘Woman’s weeds.’ | 5.1.269 Orsino-Wishes to see Viola in female clothing |
| ‘Here is my hand; you shall from this time be/ Your master’s mistress.’ | 5.1.318-9 Orsino-Proposes |
| ‘Many a good hanging prevents a bad marriage.’ | 1.5.18 Feste-Better if woman turns away as it prevents a lousy marriage-Slang for virility: Sexual endowment improves married live |
| The more fool, Madonna, to mourn your brother’s soul being in heaven. Take away the fool gentlemen.’ | 1.5.66-8 Feste-Out wits Olivia-Points out what other characters could not-No need to mourn |
| ‘I wear not motley in my brain.’ | 1.5.52-3 Feste-Only a fool by profession, not nature |
| ‘I do live by the church; for I do live at my house, and my house doth stand by the church.’ | 3.1.5-7 Feste-By the church-Wordplay |
| ‘A sentence is but a cheverel glove to a good wit.’ | 3.1.11-2 Feste-Link to Shakespeare’s father-Ambiguity of language |
| ‘Words are grown so false, I am loathe to prove reason with them.’ | 3.1.23-4 Feste-Words false so do not use in serious conversation |
| ‘I am indeed not her fool, but her corrupter of words.’ | 3.1.34-5 Feste-Not a simple fool, rather a sophisticated manipulator of language |
| ‘Now Jove in his next commodity of hair send thee a beard.’ | 3.1.43-4 Feste-Suggests that Feste knows the truth of Viola’s disguise |
| ‘Sir Topas the curate, who comes to visit Malvolio the lunatic.’ | 4.2.21-2 Feste-Uses disguise to taunt Malvolio-‘There is no darkness but ignorance.’ |
Twelfth Night – Character Quotes (Orsino and Feste)
July 16, 2019