Themes in Twelfth Night

Love as a Source of Joy and Pain

Olivia has fallen in love with Cesario, he denies his love for her

Orsino is in love with Olivia, but dosen't know that she is in love with Viola

Sebastian,Viola's twin brother, loved her very much but found out she had "died" in the shipwreck

The Folly of Ambition

Feste( The fool) is always ambitious to make people in his presence happy

Duke Orsino is very ambitious on making Cesario tell Olivia how much he loves her

Maria was very ambitious on fooling Malvolio with the letter thinking that it was from Olivia

Melancholy

Olivia was very obsessed over her love for Cesario

Olivia was obsessed about her love for her brother so she said she wouldn't date anyone for 7 years

Orsino also has feelings for Olivia

The Fickle Nature of Love

Viola knows that Olivia cannot lover her because she is not her true self.

Orsino keeps on asking Cesario to go confess his own love for Olivia, even though she is not truly in love with him.

When Malvolio was in love with Olivia, and Maria tricked him into thinking Oliva wrote the letteres to him, shows that she thinks they wouldn't be a good it.

Disguise and the uncertainty of love

Viola disguised as Cesario so he can work for Duke Orsino

Maria fools Malvolio to dress a specific way, thinking that Olivia will fall in love with him

Olivia has fallen in love with Cesario even though she doesn't know she is a woman behind the disguise.

Madness and Obsession

Malvolio becomes mad when he finds out that Maria played a trick on him

Olivia is obsessed with Cesario

As well as Duke Orsino is obsessed with Olivia