Orsino is the romantic leading man in Twelfth Night, who is passionately sentimental suitor of his neighbour, Countess Olivia, however she does not return his love.

Have a little read: ... Orsino!!! Orsino is the romantic leading man in Twelfth Night, who is passionately sentimental suitor of his neighbour, Countess Olivia, however she does not return his love. Orsino is moody and self obsessed; the famous speech with which he opens the play makes it clear that he is in love with love: 'If music be the food of love, play on, Give me excess of it that, surfeiting, The appetite may sicken and so die. That strain again, it had a dying fall. O, it came o'er my ear like the sweet sound That breathes upon a bank of violets, Stealing and giving odour. Enough, no more, 'tis not so sweet now as it was before. O spirit of love, how quick and fresh art thou That, notwithstanding thy capacity Receiveth as the sea, naught enters there, Of what validity and pitch so e'er, But falls into abatement and low price Even in a minute! So full of shapes is fancy That it alone is high fantastical.' Orsino becomes very attached to his new page, Cesario un-knowing his true identity of Viola a woman. When Viola's true self is revealed Orsino quickly transfers his love from Olivia to Viola. The issue of gender is a bit ambiguous in Twelfth Night. Orsino: ? Count/ ruler of Illyria ? Lovesick for lady Olivia (she doesn't return his affections) ? Viola taken into service as Cesario (tries to woo Olivia for Orsino) ? His affections shift by the end of the play (drops self indulgent behaviour & develops affections for Olivia. ? His love is self absorbed --> more concerned that he is a lover than with the ostensible object of his love --> suggests he is narcissistic & in love with the idea of love. ? Thinks he will be "one self-king" of Olivia's affections. Orsino's love is a selfish love. He is self-centred and sends others for him to comfort Olivia instead of doing it himself and not considering that Olivia is in mourning. This attitude presented by Orsino is very stuck up and arrogant as it shows lack of sensitivity, commitment and respect for self and Olivia's feelings. Orsino seemingly commiserates himself as he sees himself as a true melancholic lover, but however the audience can see he enjoys being a victim of love. Orsino uses excessive images this is done by using similes and metaphors (hyperbole) images of conventional, romantic love. Orsino loves from a distance and doesn't woo Olivia himself, which may also suggest that he is only in