The Two Viola's
By: Jonathan Pullen
Viola's Identity
Viola disguised herself as her brother to become the duke's servant, Orsino. Viola becomes Orsino's servant and eventually falls in love with him and will be his faithful servant put of love. She decided to be loyal and do whatever he asked with no questions because of her love for him even trying to get another woman to love him. Also, since she had been in a shipwreck she had no possessions which contributed to her idea to become a man and fit in as a servant. Orsino had said, "Your master quits you, and for your service done him, So much against the mettle of your sex, So far beneath your soft and tender breeding" (V.i. 308-311). This quote shows how Orsino realized that she was a girl and how loyal she's been to him even while loving him and having to suffer through helping him get another woman she still did because of Viola's love towards him.
Viola's Gender
As a man Viola was treated as such and one time when Sir Andrew wanted to duel with her she kept trying to back out of it since she was a girl and did not know how to fight. Since she looked like her brother even Olivia had fallen for her looks as a man and she had to try and stop her from it because of being a girl. But when she revealed herself as being a girl everyone was surprised and everything switched from her just being a guy with more so brotherly love to being true love. As a girl she is treated as her noble status rather than being a servant as a man. Orsino says, "Cesario, cone, For so you shall be, while you are a man. But when in other habits you are seen, Orsino's mistress and his fancy queen" (V.i. 371-375). This quote shows how since she looks like a man she would be treated as such until she gets into her woman clothes and then would be treated as a wife and woman.
Perceptions of Viola
People see Viola as a loyal servant to Orsino and as a messenger of him. Although, Olivia sees Viola as a handsome man (Cesario) and has fallen for his looks and loves how he is. She also sees him as stubborn because of how she won't give up on trying to make Olivia love Orsino. People see Viola as a nice man with proper manners. Olivia says, "How with mine honor may I give him that Which I have given to you" (III. IV. 191-192). This quote shows how Olivia sees Viola as her love but how Viola keeps trying to get her to love Orsino.
Similarities and Difference between Viola and Me
Some similarities between Viola and I would be that we're both loyal people and would not do anything to betray friends/ family's trust. Viola would not fight, fights unless she needed to so we're both more of a passive person. Although, I would never go to the extent of pretending to be a girl as she pretends to be a man to serve the one she loves dearly. Granted I would do a lot for the one I love but I would never be able to talk to other people for that person. Also, even though Viola is passive and wouldn't fight unless needed she is scared of that stuff while I wouldn't be because we're different in that way. Viola was able to get over her brothers death quickly not really showing emotion towards it but I wouldn't be able to do that because I am close with my brothers.
She's The Man Viola
Viola's Identity
Viola from "She's The Man" thinks of herself as a soccer player and would do anything she could to play soccer. She thinks that as a girl she can compete with the boys as well. She is more of a tomboy and does not want to do the girly things her mother deals with. Viola is very supportive of her friends/new friends but she is also mischievous because of pretending to be her brother. Viola is more of a loud and energetic girl because she is almost always upbeat in the movie, she does not like to take no as an answer if things are unfair. In She's the Man, Viola gains a new friend Duke who she started to like but as he was having girl problems Viola disguised as Sebastian was very supportive of him and helped him out(She's the Man).
Viola's Gender
As a girl Viola was treated as she shouldn't be playing with the boys because their too physical or she is not big enough to play with them. Also, her mother wanted her to enter in a debutante with all of her other friends. As a guy Viola was roughed around and everyone was more so playful such as shoving and hitting one another. When Viola was pretending to be Sebastian the guys saw him as weird and soft because she would accidentally slip and spill her fillings out because her being a girl. Viola was found attractive by the one girl Duke had liked because of being a girl she knew the feelings of one and therefore the girl Duke liked, liked Viola. In She's the Man, Viola sat at the table with the guys from the soccer team and they were talking about girls when Viola went into depth of feelings and when she opened her eyes after talking the guys had disappeared being creeped out by her(She's The Man).
Perceptions of Viola
People see Viola as a hardcore soccer player and a weird person. They think of her as a romantic who talks about his/her feelings a lot. Some see her as a awkward guy because of her being a girl who doesn't like showering with the guys. The girls see Viola as a loving, handsome guy because she expresses her feelings which attracted the women in the film. Also, people would see her as an outright person who will tell you things straight up or do things without hesitation. She is a physical girl who was able to play in the mens soccer team pushing opponents out of the way and what not. In She's the Man, Viola was playing against an opponent and while she was going for the ball she pushed over another guy to get it showing her physicality (She's the man).
Similarities and Differences between Viola and I
Viola and I are both outright type of people and are not afraid to say what's to be said. We both would do a lot to play the sport we love no matter how embarrassing it'd be. Viola is able to make friends easily as I do. We are both athletic people and can compete with many others. Viola is more of a romantic person as I am not. Viola never really thought about her brother in pretending to be him so she doesn't thin before doing whereas I do. Viola plays soccer and I play two other sports that are far from soccer.