Scene 1

• In Act 1 Scene 1 Orsino expresses his love for Olivia
• In Act 1 Scene 1, Orsino's servant Curio returns from Olivia's household where Orsino's courtship has been rejected
• In Act 1 Scene 1, Curio tells Orsino that Olivia will remain in mourning for her dead brother for 7 years
• The first scene is important in establishing the status of Orsino's love for Olivia
• Orsino's love is presented as self-indulgent as he cares less about her as an individual and more about his idealised image of her
• Orsino's language in this scene is conventional as he doesn't mention Olivia by her name until nearly the end of his first speech about his love for her
• Orsino's language indicates his capacity for strong feeling and responsiveness to music showing his extravagance or vigour for life pleasures
• Orsino's language is characterised by excess
• The first scene in the court of Illyria opens with music playing and immediately establishes Orsino's moody, romantic temperament
• Our first impressions of Olivia via Curio are that she is a character of strong emotions
• Olivia confines herself to thoughts of grief as Orsino confines himself to thoughts of love