In the play Twelfth Knight the effect of cross-dressing is quiet important to the play, because with out it Viola could have never married Orsino and Olivia would have never married Cesario. In the case between Olivia and Cesario who is earlier play by Viola, it is apparent that Viola and her brother look alike so the first attraction of Olivia would be Viola's looks even though she comments on how young Viola (Cesario) is. The main reason that Olivia falls in love is because she falls in love with herself or another woman, in this case Viola that is like her. The way Viola plays with words reels her in and since she dresses like a man Olivia falls madly in love with her. The ironic think is that she will marry Viola's brother Cesario, because Viola the true person she fell in love with was dressed like him. The friendship and love felt between Orsino and Viola is one that is based on emotions and word play. Orsino is seduced by Viola words that she says and the type of person she is, in her actions throughout their bonding experience. Cross-dressing is very important in this case because Orsino truly falls in love with Viola because he learns of the type of person she is. The fact that she dresses as a man, allows Orsino to say and act in ways he would have normally not around a female. Without cross-dressing the play would have never been able to have an ending where so many secrets were exposed with a happy ending.
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