In William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, the theme of self-deception surprisingly allows for a revealment of characters’ true personalities and values. The theme plays a significant role in the play, with foolish wits, such as the condescending but gullible Malvolio, and witty fools, such as the observant fool Feste. Similarly, Viola interacts with the man she loves, Orsino, only in the context of her disguise as his male servant Cesario. As Orsino’s servant, Viola is tasked with helping him declare his love to Olivia, but her subsequent speech to Olivia about love reveals her personal perspective on love in the context of her love for Orsino. In her conversation with Orsino, she uses a fake anecdote about her “sister” to convey her personal
