Like many other playwrights, Shakespeare used disguises in appearances to create conflicts among characters, make them seem confused and ridiculous to bring out audience's laughter. In his comedy "Twelfth Night", characters are often deceived by others' or even his own appearances. Orsino appears to be in love with Olivia, yet he is truly in love with love itself; Malvolio's appearance makes Olivia believe him to be mad; Viola and Sebastian are also trapped by their strikingly similar appearances.

The Duke Orsino appears to be madly in love with Lady Olivia, but his love is self-indulgent and excessive. Orsino believes himself to be what "all true lovers are, unstaid and skittish in all motions else save in the constant image of the creature that is beloved." Despite the countless messages sent by him to "woo [his] lady," the Duke has never met Olivia in person until Act V, scene...