Question

How does Viola’s disguise as Cesario create comic situations in Twelfth Night while also being one of the play’s main sources of conflict? Use examples from the play to support your answer

Answer 1

Viola's disguise as Cesario creates many humorous situations. The audience can laugh at Olivia for falling so deeply in love with Cesario because they know it is actually Viola and they can find humor in how surprised Viola is to discover Olivia's love. Also, Sir Andrew and Sir Toby try to engage Cesario in a fight. In some scenes they mistake Sebastian for Cesario, and this is part of the humor, because when Cesario is actually threatened with a fight the fact that she is a girl and so scared of a fight would be funny.
Viola's disguise also creates much of the conflict too, because her presence stirs up anger in Sir Toby and Sir Andrew (not wanting another boy to have Olivia's attention). Viola also cannot express her love for Orsino because of her disguise, which causes tension and conflict, especially at the end of the play. When Sebastian enters the action and the two become consistently confused for each other, both humor and conflict arise. 

Answer 2

Viola's disguise adds the element of dramatic irony to the play Twelfth Night and sets in motion a series of comic situations that spring from mistaken identity. As Cesario the page, Viola has to woo Olivia, who is Orsino’s love interest but has no interest in Orsino. Instead, Viola falls in love with Orsino but cannot express her feelings because she can’t give away her disguise:

VIOLA: I'll do my best

To woo your lady. [Aside] Yet, a barful strife!

Whoe'er I woo, myself would be his wife.

Viola realizes another problem created by the disguise when Olivia falls in love with her as Cesario:

VIOLA: And she, mistaken, seems to dote on me.

What will become of this? As I am man,

My state is desperate for my master's love;

As I am woman,--now alas the day!--

What thriftless sighs shall poor Olivia breathe!

O time! thou must untangle this, not I;

It is too hard a knot for me to untie!

Her disguise again proves to be a problem when Sir Andrew Aguecheek, considering her a man, challenges her to a duel. However, the disguise helps her to find her brother Sebastian when Antonio mistakes her for Sebastian. PLATO