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       #Post#: 5--------------------------------------------------
       Keri Commentary - second meeting: Acts 1 & 2
   DIR By: kwagner
       Date: February 15, 2016, 2:20 pm
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       This Act was a bit odd in my opinion, because the first scene
       kind of drops us in the middle of a story. At least with Much
       Ado About Nothing, they had just come back from war, but here,
       it is just another day with Duke Orsino trying to impress a
       girl. They also don't spend enough time on the whole shipwreck
       plot. Where were they going? Who else was on the ship? What
       happened? All these questions are left unanswered and the
       characters quickly transition into the scheme of dressing Viola
       as a man named Cesario so that she could work for Orsino.
       The love triangle that appears to be growing between Orsino,
       Olivia, and Viola becomes apparent in scene 5, when Olivia tells
       tells Viola that she will no longer accept Orsino's acts of
       love, "unless, perchance, [Viola, dressed as Cesario,] come to
       [Olivia] again" (1.5.278). It is inferred that Olivia has
       developed feelings for Cesario (Viola), which is confirmed after
       Viola leaves, and Olivia is by herself.
       I also noticed, with the third scene of Act 1 that a pattern of
       wit has emerged in Shakespeare's writing. Both Beatrice and
       Maria are outspoken and witty, but neither are really a main
       character. This shows that even when women are portrayed as
       independent and strong, they are cast to the side, and the
       modest women who act as they're supposed to, like Olivia has
       shown us thus far, are placed as the main characters, almost as
       if Shakespeare is highlighting which lady you should be acting
       like.
       In Act 2, I think that there are two big points of discussion.
       The first being the controversial implication of Antionio's
       romantic feelings for Sebastian. Antonio says to Sebastian, "if
       you will not murder me for my love, let me be your servant"
       (2.1.30-1). The diction of this sentence heavily implies that
       Antionio's feelings for Sebastian are far stronger than mere
       friendliness. This seems extremely risky considering that gay
       relationships have been frowned upon for all of history, they
       still are today. Why does Shakespeare add this relationship to
       the story? What purpose does it serve? Is he trying to teach us
       something?
       The second thing that should be addressed is in scene 4 when
       Orsino claims that a woman is incapable of loving as much as a
       man loves. I think that this adds to the topic of gender roles
       and sexism that are obviously present in this story. Is
       Shakespeare trying to put women down, or is he advocating that
       women are treated badly?
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