Who Duke Orsino is
Duke Orsino is the ruler of Illyria, the seaside country where the play takes place. His court introduces him absorbed in love, asking for music and then wanting it to stop. His changing appetite for music reflects the restless longing that shapes his pursuit of Olivia.
What Duke Orsino wants
Orsino wants Olivia's love, but she refuses suitors while mourning her brother. He sends Cesario to speak for him and insists that the messenger should not accept refusal. His speeches reveal a man drawn to the idea of being in love, rather than to Olivia herself.
Duke Orsino and the others in the story
Orsino quickly grows fond of Cesario and trusts his new page with his secrets. He does not know that Cesario is Viola, a shipwrecked young woman who loves him. For Viola, carrying his messages means pleading for another woman while keeping her own feelings hidden.
Olivia's attraction to Cesario complicates Orsino's pursuit without his understanding what is happening. His relationship with Viola places his self-absorbed longing beside her patient, painful love.
A best-known line
“If music be the food of love, play on.”
Questions
Who is Duke Orsino?
Duke Orsino is Illyria's ruler and Olivia's persistent suitor in Shakespeare's comedy.
Does Olivia love Duke Orsino?
No, Olivia refuses Orsino's suit. When his messenger Cesario visits, her interest turns toward the messenger instead.
How does Duke Orsino know Viola?
Orsino knows Viola as Cesario, the young page who enters his service. He confides in Cesario without knowing about Viola's disguise or her love for him.