Viola and Lucentio are both hardy characters in the Shakespearean plays Twelfth Night and Taming of the Shrew. Within the plays, they are forced to disguise themselves in order to be closer to the ones of their affections and love. By doing this they learn about the reality of their newly assumed roles, their love for another character, and about themselves. These new roles tend to cause problems among the disguised characters and for their friends and family as well. It is through experiencing and overcoming these adversities that their true love for another is realized. .
In Twelfth Night, Viola is a noble young woman that falls in love with the Duke Orsino. She decides to disguise herself as a young male messenger, Cesario, being aware that the Duke loves another, Olivia. Viola wishes to be on an intimate level with Orsino. "It may be worth thy pains; for I can sing/ And speak to him in many sorts of music- (Twelfth Night, I, ii, 56-57). Lucentio has fallen in love with Bianca, the youngest daughter of Baptista Minola in the play Taming of the Shrew. During the time period of the play, there are set guidelines to courting a lady in order to marry her. Lucentio wants Bianca to genuinely fall in love with him so they can marry. So Lucentio sends his trusted friend and servant, Tranio to fulfill those guidelines meanwhile he disguises himself as a Latin tutor and gets to know Bianca better. .
The disguises themselves help the character look at situations in new perspectives. Lucentio is a wealthy gentleman and reduces his social status by becoming a common tutor, an experience probably new to him. But at this common level, Lucentio, as Camio is free from the social confinements of the upper class to woo Bianca as he pleases. "Bianca's love/ Made me exchange states with Tranio- (Taming of the Shrew V, i, 126-127). Viola is disguised as a man and among her tasks from the Duke is to send words of veneration and affection to Olivia.
