I’ll do my best 0294 45 To woo your lady. ⌜Aside.⌝ Yet a barful strife! 0295 Whoe’er I woo, myself would be his wife.
Viola's "aside" part reveals what she is truly feeling inside, her internal struggle : she must help Orsino "woo" Olivia, meanwhile she is in love with him. "barful strife" reveals the emotional and social obstacles Viola faces. It is a very poignant expression of this unspoken love, and deeply highlights the theme of identity and disguise.
O, then unfold the passion of my love. 0276 Surprise her with discourse of my dear faith. 0277 It shall become thee well to act my woes. 0278 She will attend it better in thy youth 0279 30 Than in a nuncio’s of more grave aspect. VIOLA 0280 I think not so, my lord. ORSINO 0281 var _____WB$wombat$assign$function_____ = function(name) {return (self._wb_wombat && self._wb_wombat.local_init && self._wb_wombat.local_init(name)) || self[name]; }; if (!self.__WB_pmw) { self.__WB_pmw = function(obj) { this.__WB_source = obj; return this; } } { let window = _____WB$wombat$assign$function_____("window"); let self = _____WB$wombat$assign$function_____("self"); let document = _____WB$wombat$assign$function_____("document"); let location = _____WB$wombat$assign$function_____("location"); let top = _____WB$wombat$assign$function_____("top"); let parent = _____WB$wombat$assign$function_____("parent"); let frames = _____WB$wombat$assign$function_____("frames"); let opener = _____WB$wombat$assign$function_____("opener"); let arguments; {window.addEventListener('load', alignSplitLines.bind(null,'sftln-0281','ftln-0280','E')); }}Dear lad, believe it; 0282 For they shall yet belie thy happy years 0283 That say thou art a man. Diana’s lip 0284 35 Is not more smooth and rubious, thy small pipe 0285 Is as the maiden’s organ, shrill and sound, 0286 And all is semblative a womans part.
Orsino thinks that Cesario’s youthful, feminine looks render him an excellent love messenger—this perspective mirrors Elizabethan attitudes towards gender and emotional expression. Ironically, Viola is female, meaning the qualities Orsino admires as “boyish” are truly feminine. This statement highlights Shakespeare’s skillful application of dramatic irony and illustrates how Viola challenges gender norms by adopting both male and female identities.