Viola's disguise leads to which outcome?

• A. Mistaken identity and romantic confusion
• B. Immediate recognition and resolution
• C. Violence and tragedy
• D. Clear separation of characters

Answer: (A)

Disguise as a plot device creates tangled relationships and misunderstandings. When Viola dresses as a young man called Cesario, she becomes the intermediary between Orsino and Olivia. Olivia falls for Cesario, not realizing Cesario is Viola in disguise, while Viola herself harbors feelings for Orsino. This setup generates a web of mistaken identities and romantic confusion, with characters misreading who loves whom and why. The comedy relies on these mix-ups rather than quick recognition or tragedy, so the outcome is best described as mistaken identity and romantic confusion.