Viola: A Character Sketch
Viola is the most vital character of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, a romantic comedy. She is the heroine of this play. In the play she appears late but the entire play revolves round her. She is Shakespeare’s idol of perfect love. In sweet feminine attributes, Viola is most charming character in the world of Shakespeare.
Viola’s appearance is charming. Her
beauty makes her wildly sweet. People are amazed and stunned to see her.
Wherever she goes she wins the heart with her ravishing and enchanting beauty.
She is beautiful physically as well as mentally. That’s why almost all the
characters admire her personal charms and dashing beauty.
When Orsino, the Duke of Illyria, sees her for
the first time in disguise, he exclaims:
Diana’s lip
Is not more smooth and rubious; thy small pipe
Is as the maiden’s organ, shrill and sound,
And all is semblative a woman’s part.
Viola wins Olivia’s heart by her
beauty. Olivia is intoxicated by amorous feelings for her. She admires:
Thy tongue, thy face, thy limbs, actions and spirit,
Do give thee five-fold blazon.
It is only her feminine virtues that
make her the greatest character of this play. She is perfect example of
womanhood. Her heart is full of feminine sympathy and generosity. She performs
her duty honestly. She goes again and again to Olivia and very earnestly and
sincerely tries to enkindle love in her heart.
Viola’s character reflects her
modesty. It is a precious jewel of her character. She disguises herself to
protect herself from the world’s uncivil comments. We know that she has a great
love for the Duke but due to her modesty she never expressed it.
Viola’s love is an embodiment of
purity, piety, tenderness and profoundness. There is a spirit of self sacrifice
in it. Her love is a treasure that she keeps hidden in her heart. It is based
on constancy and devotion. She likes to smile even in grief. As an ideal
sister, she has deep love for her brother, Sebastian. She is not sentimental in
her love like Orsino or Olivia. She maintains patience. She hopes to discover
her brother. In short, her love is marked with balance and depth.
Viola is very practical in her life.
She has strong will power and she is the mistress of her will. She quickly
picks her up from the misfortunes of shipwreck. She takes no time in making
future plans for her. Within three days she wins the Duke’s favour by her
sweetness and devotion. She plays the role of a boy so nicely. She knows well
how to grab success. She is a keen observer of life and world. That’s why she
is never deceived. Her radiant hope and sweet temperament make her an excellent
character.
Thus Viola is a lovable character. In
the play she is appreciated by all. She knows her duty well and follows it
strictly suppressing all her personal feelings and emotions. That’s why a
scholar exclaimes, ‘….Rosalind is woman, Viola is a poem.”
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