According to Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, love is defined as “a strong affection for another arising from kinship or personal ties; attraction based on sexual desire; the affection and tenderness felt by lovers; affection based on admiration, benevolence or common interest; or an assurance of love. In William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, three different types of love are experienced: friendly love, true love, and self-love. Each character experiences a different type of love, and in some cases, it's not the one they initially expected. The twisted yet intriguing love story allows the reader to get lost in the emotions and development of each character throughout the play. Many examples of love in the play are overcome by a feeling of desire, leading some characters to become blind to their true love. Viola, Cesario, Orsino, Olivia, Sebastian, and Malvolio all experience love in different ways, which adds depth to Shakespeare's comedic play. An example of true love in Twelfth Night is Viola's love for Orsino. At the beginning of the play, the reader feels Orsino's feelings of love. It's a confusing start, however, as Shakespeare offers conflicting views on love. Orsino says, “Give me an excess, so that overeating may sicken the appetite and so die” (Act 1, scene 1, lines 2-3). This means that Orsino wants musicians to give him so much love that he gets fed up and doesn't love anymore. This shows the depth of Orsino's desire for Olivia. He loves (or thinks he loves) Olivia so much that he can no longer control himself and wants to get rid of his love for her. The whole speech plays with the idea that love is not something tangible, but a more or less imaginative state of being....... middle of paper...... confide very deep secrets to each other. With Viola and the Sea Captain, they formed a strong bond because of what they experienced together, which is very relatable to the reader. Viola's true desire to find her brother becomes evident when she is willing to disguise herself as a man in an attempt to find him. The captain also shares part of his desire by agreeing to keep his plan secret. Shakespeare did a great job talking about the theme of love in such a compelling, intense, and comical way. It gives each reader something they can relate to and expresses that everyone experiences love in a different way. Works Cited Damrosch, David. Longman Anthology of British Literature. 2nd ed. Flight. A. New York: Longman, 2004. Print. Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 11th edition (book only). 11th ed. Springfield: Merriam-Webster, 2003. Print.