Discovering Duke
Carina Saucedo
Identity
Duke Orsino in Twelfh Night thinks of himself as a powerful noble man, but at the same time very stubborn and hard headed about what he believes in, for instance; he believes that he is in love with Lady Olivia, when in reality he is just in love with himself. He loves the idea of being in love, even if it drives him a little crazy, and he is a very passionate man. "That instant i was turned into a hart, And my desires, like fell and cruel hounds, E'er since pursue me" (I.I.20-22). In this quote Orsino is basically saying that he was hunted and chased by his own desires, its not mainly about chasing after Olivia. Its more about chasing himself, since he uses me, my and I.
Gender
Duke Orsino is forced to act very masculine, he believes that men should control women, he seems to think that the younger the woman the easier it is to control her and change her views to what is best for a man. He thinks that women aren't capable of many things that men are, for instance, loving. Just like he explained to Cesario (Viola), "No woman's heart So big, to hold so much. They lack retention. Alas, their love may be called appetite" (II.IV.92-94). In this quote Duke Orsino explains to Cesario that no woman has a heart big enough to hold all his love, that a woman's love is shallow as appetite for them. As if Dukes Orsino is so full and whole heartedly.
Perception
The other characters see Duke Orsino as a self-centered, lovesick, over dramatic person. People believe that Duke thinks he can get any girl he wants due to his rank in society. Many of the characters in Twelfh Night seem to believe that Orsino is temperamental and unstable, due to his changes in mood swings. Like in the play he goes from overly lovesick for Olivia to asking for Violas hand in marriage once he finds out that Cesario in reality is a girl. Like the fool told Duke Orsino, "for thy mind is a very opal"(II.IV.71-71). In this quote the Fool is practically saying that Orsino is bipolar by comparing him to a opal since an opal gemstone shimmers and shifts colors, just like Duke Orsino seems to shift moods in a blink of an eye.
Similarities/Differences
I do not have many similarities with Duke Orsino. Although I am also very stubborn and hardheaded with what I believe in and what I think is right, just like he is. In contrast to Duke Orsino, I am not overly lovesick, "If music be the food of love, play on"(I.I.1). This quote basically shows how lovesick Duke Orsino is, it shows how in love he is with the idea of love. I could not be automatically in love over a girl, or guy in my case, that I barley know anything about. I rather get to know someone.
She's The Man
Identity
Duke in She's The Man seems to know what he is and what he isn't. He seems to try extremely hard to live up to what everyone expects him to be. He is a very down to earth guy, with goals in mind. Although Duke seems to be completely lovesick over Olivia just due to her looks the audience knows that its not just over that. He somehow expects her to be his soul mate in some ways, like in the conversation he had with Cesario in their room. Duke wants to be able to have a normal conversation with a girl, not just flirt and kiss, he wants to have a connection (She's The Man). He seems to think that Olivia is capable of having that connection, what he doesn't seem to think is that Olivia and him have never had a conversation or even have things in common so how would they have that connection.
Gender
In She's The Man Duke is forced to act as a typical male. All tough guy with no emotions what so ever, even though deep down he is just as emotional, and cares about things as much as any girl ever could. He describes Olivia as "hot" whenever anyone asked him about why he like her, it didn't seem like he actually had a good enough reason to explain why he seemed to like Olivia so much. Although whenever Cesario talked about girls in a physical way like when Cesario brought up how Olivia had a nice behind in the actual movie Duke got all defensive and said, 'Don't talk about her like that' or later on in the movie when again Cesario brought up a girls physical form Duke was quick to defend them and go off on Cesario for always bringing up their body as if it was nothing (She's The Man). Which shows us that even though Duke is forced as a typical male, he has more to him than just what people see on the outside.
Perception
The other characters in She's The Man see Duke as a typical school jock who does not care about anything else but soccer, and a girls looks. According to Olivia from Shes The Man, when Cesario who is Viola in disguise tried convincing Olivia to go out with Duke and give him a chance, she brought up the fact that she thought that Duke would only want to date her so that he could tell all his buddies that he was dating the hottest girl in school (She's the Man). Cesario seems to convince her that he is not like that but you can tell that Olivia still has her doubts about him, Dukes friends also seem to think that he does not care about girls feelings and that it just seems to be about body and looks.
Similarities and Differences
Just like with Duke from She's The Man, I also know who i am or what I am not, and i will not let anyone tell me different. Another similarity is that I hate whenever a guy or a girl talks about the opposite gender just because of their body. Some differences between me and Duke from She's The Man on the other hand, just like with Duke Orsino from Twelfh Night, I am not overly love sick over a girl or guy that I do not know anything about. Duke from the movie may not seem as love sick as Orsino from the play but they are pretty close. For example, in the movie when Duke is all worried and stuttering because he finally got the girl he'd been wanting to go on a date with, and Cesario is all giving him advice (She's The Man).