Twelfth Night - the Effects of Love

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Act 3). In general, murderous usually means to be capable of murder, or the nature of murder. However, in this case this word in context means that a murder is better to hide guilt than Olivia’s love for Cesario. The word in this connotation seems to be negative although, it is almost as if it is a compliment making this word positive in the context. This terrible action (murderous guilt) is better than hiding her desperation for Cesario. In the 1530s, murderous was a hybrid from murder and -ous. An Old English word for it was morðorhycgende. Murderous demonstrates that Olivia is crying out for her love, she cannot keep it hidden. She is also delicate at this moment, the guilt of murder has a better chance of being concealed that her feelings for this certain person. Her love for this particular individual changed her and it made her fragile and almost become hopeless.

Shakespeare’s strong language makes the reader believe that love causes one to become desperate and fragile. Throughout the play, Olivia falls in love with Cesario, and she becomes infatuated with him to the point where she is weak and desperate. In the soliloquy, Olivia’s word choice proves her love for Cesario. Her love for this particular individual caused her to become weak. She is now a worse version of herself because of what this love has done to her. One cannot help how they feel. Love is an addiction and can change a person completely. In life, one’s decisions based upon love can alter who they are. Love can either have the best impact in one’s life or it can completely ruin them. There is no in between.

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