Twelfth Night
by William Shakespeare

Twelfth Night: Foil 2 key examples

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Key Examples in Twelfth Night

Foil
Explanation and Analysis—Viola's Male Foils:

Viola has several foils in Twelfth Night, the majority of whom are men. Numerous scenes throughout the play involve intimate interactions between Viola and Orsino, which serve to highlight their contrasting character traits. Orsino is a stark foil for Viola—where she is feminine, he is masculine; where she is young, he is old; and where she is without family or fortune in a strange country, he is the most influential man in Illyria. Most importantly, while Orsino's love for Olivia is incredibly performative, Viola's love for Orsino is genuine, and while Orsino makes a spectacle of his desire, Viola keeps hers hidden.

Act 1, scene 5
Explanation and Analysis—Viola's Female Foils:

While the majority of Viola's foils in Twelfth Night are men, she does have two notable female foils. Of the two, the most obvious is Olivia.

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Act 2, scene 2
Explanation and Analysis—Viola's Female Foils:

While the majority of Viola's foils in Twelfth Night are men, she does have two notable female foils. Of the two, the most obvious is Olivia.

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Act 2, scene 3
Explanation and Analysis—Viola's Female Foils:

While the majority of Viola's foils in Twelfth Night are men, she does have two notable female foils. Of the two, the most obvious is Olivia.

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