Shakespeare's conveys his thoughts about love through the hilarious dramatic interactions between characters and the twisting plot. Through analysis of these two I concluded that Shakespeare views love as fickle, ever-changing and also based on appearances. Not only does he satire love but also at the same time expresses how fast love can grow. My own views on love are actually quite similar, even though Shakespeare is commonly criticized for his use of love at first site and ever-changing attraction. I believe love is all that Shakespeare shows it to be (fickle, ever-changing, and based on appearances); however, I disagree with his insinuation that it is not lasting. He hints at this with Olivia's switch from loving Cesario to loving Sebastian. Even though I agree that love is ever-changing I also think that there is a somewhat long period of time for that change to take place. That time period is very important because it shows exactly how deep the emotions felt between the two partners were. Because Olivia almost immediately accepts the change in her focus of attraction from Cesario to Sebastian it shows that the depth of emotion was not deep before. However, from early in the book though i would argue that it presented Olivia's attraction for more than appearance attraction; even though that is what it started with. She enjoyed his strong personality and young boyishness that was very similar to a girl's perspective. Sebastian does not have the same personality as Cesario and yet she still takes him as her husband. This I feel is an inaccurate portrayal of love because her love can not change so fast.
In the case of Viola loving Orsino, she sticks to her love throughout the book forever remaining loyal to him, even when offered a different route out of her love triangle, by way of Olivia. Though some argue that love at first sight is not possible then I would have to wonder what type of love is truly concrete. If someone loves another for their personality what happens when another comes around with a similar personality; does that mean they switch partners every single time that happens? I would not call that love but just a deep crush or attraction. Also against the argument that someone loves another based on their appearance also has a similar result; their are so many people with the similar appearances just like with personalities. Though some say how could you believe in love at first sight when there is no time for love to grow; i feel there is another option for two souls just to be attracted to each other like in the case of Viola and Orsino. Even during the play there are hints that Orsino is also interested in Viola, through his close relationship to Cesario. Because Orsino stops liking Olivia and turns to Viola it shows how love is fickle in a sophisticated manner. His love changes quickly because there is someone to change it. My views of love are very like Shakespeare's except that my views have a more believing approach to the idea of true love. (521)
