Viola’s Monologue from Twelfth Night, Act 2, Scene 2: "I left no ring with her: what means this lady?"
Synopsis
Viola reflects on the unexpected development in her disguise as Cesario: Olivia, whom she visited on Duke Orsino’s behalf, appears to have fallen in love with her male persona. Conflicted and distressed, Viola considers the complications of this love triangle—her love for Orsino, Olivia’s mistaken love for her, and Orsino’s unrequited love for Olivia. This monologue captures Viola’s emotional turmoil and insight into human vulnerability, as well as the comedic complications of mistaken identity.
What’s just happened before this moment that’s relevant to the scene?
Malvolio has just delivered a ring to Viola (disguised as Cesario) on behalf of Olivia. Viola realizes that Olivia’s claim that Cesario left the ring is false, signaling Olivia’s romantic interest in her.
Original Text
"I left no ring with her: what means this lady?
Fortune forbid my outside have not charm’d her!
She made good view of me, indeed so much,
That sure methought her eyes had lost her tongue,
For she did speak in starts distractedly.
She loves me, sure; the cunning of her passion
Invites me in this churlish messenger.
None of my lord’s ring? Why, he sent her none.
I am the man: if it be so, as ’tis,
Poor lady, she were better love a dream.
Disguise, I see thou art a wickedness,
Wherein the pregnant enemy does much.
How easy is it for the proper false
In women’s waxen hearts to set their forms!
Alas, our frailty is the cause, not we,
For such as we are made of, such we be.
How will this fadge? My master loves her dearly;
And I, poor monster, fond as much on him,
And she, mistaken, seems to dote on me:
What will become of this? As I am man,
My state is desperate for my master’s love:
As I am woman (now alas the day!)
What thriftless sighs shall poor Olivia breathe?
O time, thou must untangle this, not I;
It is too hard a knot for me t’untie."
Translation of Text into Contemporary Language
"I didn’t leave a ring with her—what’s going on with this woman?
Please don’t let my appearance have enchanted her!
She looked at me closely, so much so
That I’m sure her eyes seemed to stop her from speaking,
Because she spoke in short, distracted bursts.
She’s in love with me, no doubt; the way her passion
Showed itself through this rude messenger makes that clear.
None of my lord’s ring? He didn’t send her any ring.
It’s me—she’s in love with me!
If that’s true, poor lady, she’d be better off loving a dream.
I see now that disguise is a dangerous thing,
A tool that allows the devil to cause a lot of trouble.
How easily deceitful men can mold
The tender hearts of women like wax!
But it’s not our fault—we’re just made that way.
What am I going to do? My master loves Olivia deeply,
And I, poor fool, love him just as much.
And Olivia, by mistake, seems to be in love with me!
What’s going to happen? As a man,
I have no hope of my master’s love.
And as a woman (oh, what a disaster!)
Poor Olivia is doomed to sigh over me with no hope.
Time, you’ll have to solve this—it’s too hard for me to untangle."
Meaning of Difficult or Unusual Words
Charm’d: Enchanted or captivated.
Starts distractedly: Spoke in an interrupted, distracted manner.
Cunning: Subtlety or craftiness.
Churlish: Rude or surly.
Pregnant enemy: The devil or an evil influence, described as fertile with mischief.
Proper false: Handsome but deceitful men.
Waxen hearts: Hearts easily molded or influenced.
Fadge: Work out or turn out.
Thriftless sighs: Wasted sighs or futile expressions of love.
Suggested New Thoughts Chunking / Paragraphing with Acting Notes
"I left no ring with her: what means this lady? Fortune forbid my outside have not charm’d her!"
Acting Note: Begin with confusion and rising alarm. Viola is trying to make sense of the situation and fears the consequences of Olivia’s feelings."She made good view of me, indeed so much, That sure methought her eyes had lost her tongue, For she did speak in starts distractedly."
Acting Note: Add a reflective tone with a hint of incredulity. Viola is piecing together Olivia’s behavior and realizing its implications."She loves me, sure; the cunning of her passion Invites me in this churlish messenger. None of my lord’s ring? Why, he sent her none."
Acting Note: Shift to certainty and dismay. Viola recognizes Olivia’s love and sees the deception in the gesture of the ring."I am the man: if it be so, as ’tis, Poor lady, she were better love a dream."
Acting Note: This realization is a turning point. Speak with pity for Olivia but also with an undertone of personal despair."Disguise, I see thou art a wickedness, Wherein the pregnant enemy does much."
Acting Note: Infuse these lines with self-reproach and frustration. Viola begins to see the complications her disguise has caused."How easy is it for the proper false In women’s waxen hearts to set their forms! Alas, our frailty is the cause, not we, For such as we are made of, such we be."
Acting Note: Adopt a philosophical tone. Viola reflects on the vulnerability of women’s hearts and the nature of human frailty."How will this fadge? My master loves her dearly; And I, poor monster, fond as much on him, And she, mistaken, seems to dote on me:"
Acting Note: Build intensity here as Viola lays out the love triangle, expressing the growing complexity and hopelessness of the situation."What will become of this? As I am man, My state is desperate for my master’s love: As I am woman (now alas the day!) What thriftless sighs shall poor Olivia breathe?"
Acting Note: Speak with rising despair and a sense of futility. Viola is trapped by the conflicting roles of her disguise and her emotions."O time, thou must untangle this, not I; It is too hard a knot for me t’untie."
Acting Note: End with resignation. Viola places her hope in time to resolve the situation, her tone weary but reflective.
Journey Keypoints
Hook: Viola begins by questioning Olivia’s intentions and the meaning behind the ring.
Turning Point: She realizes Olivia is in love with her (as Cesario), setting up the central conflict of the scene.
Climax: Viola reflects on the complexities of love and the entanglements caused by her disguise.
Resolution: Resigned, she acknowledges that time alone can untangle the situation.
Famous or Notable Actors Who Have Played the Role
Imogen Stubbs (Twelfth Night, 1996 Film)
Helen Hunt (Shakespeare in the Park, 1998)
Viola Davis (Public Theater, 2009)
Tamara Lawrance (National Theatre Live, 2017)
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