"Now the melancholy god protect thee, and the tailor make thy doublet of changeable taffeta, for thy mind is a very opal." - Fool
The fool tells Orsino that his mind is always changing with the way he feels and thinks of things. He hopes the "god of sadness" will be there to protect him during this time, because I think the fool feels sympathy for Orsino in this tragic love story of this. Shakespeare clearly really likes this character and he puts a lot of the wisdom of the play out through him. I think here the fool is wishing Orsino well, but at the same time telling him that he needs more commitment and consistency in his life. He advises him to focus more on the things that matter in his life, as for the mind is "opal" meaning it changes. A wise 'fool' indeed.
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I like how you bring up the Fool's intelligence. He is much more crafty with his wording than any other character which shows great intellect.
ReplyDelete--Orsino's life is just messed up, I feel bad for him too.
Aside: your use of "I think" twice in a short blog makes the reader believe that you feel tentatively or less sure about your position. Write with authority.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm with Lindsey. Orsino is living according to an antiquated code. He must love a divinity, not a lady. This is why he chooses an aristocratic lady like Olivia -- another kind of "sport royal." It's a good thing he meets Cesario-Viola.