Should gender stop someone from being who they want to be? During the early seventeenth century, many social barriers prevented people from being themselves, such as remaining the gender they were born with throughout their whole life. Any movement and straying from their gender, based on their biological sex, was not acceptable and was looked down upon. Societal structure and law made very clear that biological sex must be the same as sexual orientation. However, in the play Twelfth Night, or What You Will, Shakespeare creates Viola to manipulate gender ambiguities that allow her to express her true feelings and emotions to ultimately prove that gender is irrelevant in a relationship. Viola disguises herself as a man to gain agency in a world where it is hard for a woman to speak their mind. With the help from the captain, Viola begins her gender transformation:
Conceal me what I am, and be my aid
For such disguise as haply shall become
The form of my intent. I’ll serve this duke.
Thou shalt present me as a eunuch to him.
It may be worth thy pains, for I can sing
And speak to him in many sorts of music
That will allow me very worth his service (I.ii.56-62).
Viola asks the captain to help her …show more content…
When she uncovers her true character and reveals it to Orsino, he still declares hislove for her: “Boy, thou hast said to me a thousand times/Thou never shouldst love woman like to me” (IV.i.279-280). He addresses her as a boy, but later asks to see her in “women’s weeds” (IV.i.286). The uncertainty of her gender goes to prove that gender doesn’t matter when it comes to true love. Orsino loves Viola when she is disguised as a boy and continues to love her when she identifies herself as a woman. The same feelings apply to Olivia, when Sebastian comes to Illyria. Olivia, not knowingly, goes after Sebastian thinking he is Viola. QUOTE
Conceal me what I am, and be my aid
For such disguise as haply shall become
The form of my intent. I’ll serve this duke.
Thou shalt present me as a eunuch to him.
It may be worth thy pains, for I can sing
And speak to him in many sorts of music
That will allow me very worth his service (I.ii.56-62).
Viola asks the captain to help her …show more content…
When she uncovers her true character and reveals it to Orsino, he still declares hislove for her: “Boy, thou hast said to me a thousand times/Thou never shouldst love woman like to me” (IV.i.279-280). He addresses her as a boy, but later asks to see her in “women’s weeds” (IV.i.286). The uncertainty of her gender goes to prove that gender doesn’t matter when it comes to true love. Orsino loves Viola when she is disguised as a boy and continues to love her when she identifies herself as a woman. The same feelings apply to Olivia, when Sebastian comes to Illyria. Olivia, not knowingly, goes after Sebastian thinking he is Viola. QUOTE