Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Duke Orcino: What is Going Through that Noble Mind?

I found that all of the characters in Twelfth Night met or exceeded my expectations. Except for Duke Orcino. He tried my patience from the very beginning with an irritating monologue. And then, he is the most irritating suitor to Lady Olivia! He sends Viola/Cesario over to convince her of his love every SINGLE day. Olivia is probably just wishing he'd give her some space. No wonder she went for Cesario, who knows how to be tactful (since he's a woman).
Ok, and if that isn't enough, Feste plays him for a fool in the last act by tricking the Duke to give him more money. Who would fall for that?
And lastly, he didn't even wait to see Viola in maiden clothing before he proposed. A little impetuous, perhaps? It's not like he's proposing to a stranger, but you have to admit that change of gender changes everything.
So there it is. I don't like the Duke. I'm guessing he wasn't Shakespeare's favorite character either. Why else is he the only one in the play who possesses the talent of making you yawn?

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Ditto. Give it a rest already Duke! She rejected you, and rejected you, and rejected you and still you don't get it. Plus, when they finally talk face to face and she rejects him AGAIN he acts all offended and disbelieving. Orsino: "still so cruel?!" Olivia: "Still so constant". Meaning, duh, if I didn't like you before I'm not going to like you now. Capische? Didn't Einstein or someone like that say that to do the same thing over and over and expect a different result was insanity? Plus, if he was soooooo in love with Olivia why does he decide to marry Viola as soon as he finds out she's a girl? As Shakespeare says, men are "to one thing constant never". Just like Romeo. He was acting like an emo high school kid because Rosaline didn't love him but then he see's a hot young Juliet and suddenly he's over Miss "Rich in Beauty" Rosaline.

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