Act 1 Scene 1 notes

  1. If music be the food of love, play on
  2. Will you go hunt, my lord?
  3. The element itself, till seven years' heat 
  4. She that hath a heart of that fine frame

If music be the food of love, play on

Orsino begins melancholy, aching for a love he cannot have.  Like Jaques in As You Like It, he wants to maintain his love-sickness, and music is good to enhance passion.  But in this Orsino has turned his court topsy-turvy, because though his men want to go hunting, he prefers to languish in love.  He acknowledges his feminine side, his emotional side, but must learn to balance this with masculinity.

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Will you go hunt, my lord?

Orsino has forsaken manly sports and activities such as hunting.  But, like other of Shakespeare's heroes, he can pun with language, playing on "hart" meaning deer and "heart" meaning love.

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The element itself, till seven years' heat

Olivia plans to mourn for her brother in an exaggerated manner.  Compare this to Hamlet's feelings of grief, and also to Viola's.  

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She hath a heart of that fine frame

Rather than being jealous of the love she bore her brother, Orsino rightly interprets Olivia's desire as a reflection of her ability to love.

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