What are some similarites or differences Olivia and Viola share from Twelfth Night?

Question

I already have

1. Both seem to fall in love with the wrong men

2.Viola is positive, Olivia is negative

Answer 1

A really good resource for questions like this is the Open Shakespeare site that lets you pull out all the lines of a single character (with or without their cue lines).

  It make it much easier to compare lines and reactions to a given situation.

In particular the scene where they first meet highlights their differences. Viola is by far the more eloquent and very dashing (Olivia thinks she is a man). Olivia is deeply attracted to him (her) almost immediately.

===================================

[Enter VIOLA, and Attendants]

    * Viola. The honourable lady of the house, which is she?

    * Olivia. Speak to me; I shall answer for her.

      Your will?

    * Viola. Most radiant, exquisite and unmatchable beauty,—I

      pray you, tell me if this be the lady of the house, 465

      for I never saw her: I would be loath to cast away

      my speech, for besides that it is excellently well

      penned, I have taken great pains to con it. Good

      beauties, let me sustain no scorn; I am very

      comptible, even to the least sinister usage. 470

    * Olivia. Whence came you, sir?

    * Viola. I can say little more than I have studied, and that

      question's out of my part. Good gentle one, give me

      modest assurance if you be the lady of the house,

      that I may proceed in my speech. 475

    * Olivia. Are you a comedian?

    * Viola. No, my profound heart: and yet, by the very fangs

      of malice I swear, I am not that I play. Are you

      the lady of the house?

    * Olivia. If I do not usurp myself, I am. 480

    * Viola. Most certain, if you are she, you do usurp

      yourself; for what is yours to bestow is not yours

      to reserve. But this is from my commission: I will

      on with my speech in your praise, and then show you

      the heart of my message. 485

    * Olivia. Come to what is important in't: I forgive you the praise.

    * Viola. Alas, I took great pains to study it, and 'tis poetical.

    * Olivia. It is the more like to be feigned: I pray you,

      keep it in. I heard you were saucy at my gates,

      and allowed your approach rather to wonder at you 490

      than to hear you. If you be not mad, be gone; if

      you have reason, be brief: 'tis not that time of

      moon with me to make one in so skipping a dialogue.

    * Maria. Will you hoist sail, sir? here lies your way.

    * Viola. No, good swabber; I am to hull here a little 495

      longer. Some mollification for your giant, sweet

      lady. Tell me your mind: I am a messenger.

    * Olivia. Sure, you have some hideous matter to deliver, when

      the courtesy of it is so fearful. Speak your office.

    * Viola. It alone concerns your ear. I bring no overture of 500

      war, no taxation of homage: I hold the olive in my

      hand; my words are as fun of peace as matter.

    * Olivia. Yet you began rudely. What are you? what would you?

    * Viola. The rudeness that hath appeared in me have I

      learned from my entertainment. What I am, and what I 505

      would, are as secret as maidenhead; to your ears,

      divinity, to any other's, profanation.

    * Olivia. Give us the place alone: we will hear this divinity.

      [Exeunt MARIA and Attendants]

      Now, sir, what is your text? 510

    * Viola. Most sweet lady,—

    * Olivia. A comfortable doctrine, and much may be said of it.

      Where lies your text?

    * Viola. In Orsino's bosom.

    * Olivia. In his bosom! In what chapter of his bosom? 515

    * Viola. To answer by the method, in the first of his heart.

    * Olivia. O, I have read it: it is heresy. Have you no more to say?

    * Viola. Good madam, let me see your face.

    * Olivia. Have you any commission from your lord to negotiate

      with my face? You are now out of your text: but 520

      we will draw the curtain and show you the picture.

      Look you, sir, such a one I was this present: is't

      not well done?

[Unveiling]

    * Viola. Excellently done, if God did all. 525

    * Olivia. 'Tis in grain, sir; 'twill endure wind and weather.

    * Viola. 'Tis beauty truly blent, whose red and white

      Nature's own sweet and cunning hand laid on:

      Lady, you are the cruell'st she alive,

      If you will lead these graces to the grave 530

      And leave the world no copy.

    * Olivia. O, sir, I will not be so hard-hearted; I will give

      out divers schedules of my beauty: it shall be

      inventoried, and every particle and utensil

      labelled to my will: as, item, two lips, 535

      indifferent red; item, two grey eyes, with lids to

      them; item, one neck, one chin, and so forth. Were

      you sent hither to praise me?

    * Viola. I see you what you are, you are too proud;

      But, if you were the devil, you are fair. 540

      My lord and master loves you: O, such love

      Could be but recompensed, though you were crown'd

      The nonpareil of beauty!

    * Olivia. How does he love me?

    * Viola. With adorations, fertile tears, 545

      With groans that thunder love, with sighs of fire.

    * Olivia. Your lord does know my mind; I cannot love him:

      Yet I suppose him virtuous, know him noble,

      Of great estate, of fresh and stainless youth;

      In voices well divulged, free, learn'd and valiant; 550

      And in dimension and the shape of nature

      A gracious person: but yet I cannot love him;

      He might have took his answer long ago.

    * Viola. If I did love you in my master's flame,

      With such a suffering, such a deadly life, 555

      In your denial I would find no sense;

      I would not understand it.

    * Olivia. Why, what would you?

    * Viola. Make me a willow cabin at your gate,

      And call upon my soul within the house; 560

      Write loyal cantons of contemned love

      And sing them loud even in the dead of night;

      Halloo your name to the reverberate hills

      And make the babbling gossip of the air

      Cry out 'Olivia!' O, You should not rest 565

      Between the elements of air and earth,

      But you should pity me!

    * Olivia. You might do much.

      What is your parentage?

    * Viola. Above my fortunes, yet my state is well: 570

      I am a gentleman.

    * Olivia. Get you to your lord;

      I cannot love him: let him send no more;

      Unless, perchance, you come to me again,

      To tell me how he takes it. Fare you well: 575

      I thank you for your pains: spend this for me.

    * Viola. I am no fee'd post, lady; keep your purse:

      My master, not myself, lacks recompense.

      Love make his heart of flint that you shall love;

      And let your fervor, like my master's, be 580

      Placed in contempt! Farewell, fair cruelty.

[Exit]

    * Olivia. 'What is your parentage?'

      'Above my fortunes, yet my state is well:

      I am a gentleman.' I'll be sworn thou art; 585

      Thy tongue, thy face, thy limbs, actions and spirit,

      Do give thee five-fold blazon: not too fast:

      soft, soft!

      Unless the master were the man. How now!

      Even so quickly may one catch the plague? 590

      Methinks I feel this youth's perfections

      With an invisible and subtle stealth

      To creep in at mine eyes. Well, let it be.

      What ho, Malvolio!