Twelfth Night Q3 ORB

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?

In Act 1 of Twelfth Night, Viola and Olivia both lose their brothers. While "[Olivia herself], till seven years' heat, shall not behold her face at ample view" (1.1.25-6), Viola chooses to "conceal what [she is], and...serve this duke" (1.2.50-2). I feel like Olivia serves as a foil to Viola not only to show the theme that "care's an enemy to life" (1.3.2), but also to emphasize Viola as a strong female character, who makes the most out of tough situations.

Viola and Olivia remind me a lot of Beatrice and Hero; while Olivia and Hero are more or a stereotyped weak, feminine character, Viola and Beatrice promote feminism with strong, independent, wills. These gender roles are especially shown through Viola playing a man--is Shakespeare saying that there isn't really a difference between genders beside physical characteristics?

Another common trait I see in many of Shakespeare plays is the irrational, sudden love by an overly dramatic and romantic character. The Duke Orsino bears a strong resemblance to Romeo from Romeo and Juliet and Claudio from Much Ado About Nothing. At the very beginning of the play, he states that "when [his] eyes did see Olivia first, [he]thought she purged the air of pestilence" (1.1.18-9). The way he talks about Olivia is in a lovesick, ranting manner much like Romeo and Claudio, about girls they haven't really even met or talked to. I don't really understand Shakespeare's definition of love--how do you love someone you haven't even talked to? This just further emphasizes the pronounced gender roles in his time--men easily fell in love with women strictly for their looks, barely giving a thought to the person they were beneath that.