Questions: In Elizabethan times, a person's social position was very important. Someone of a lower rank could not marry a person of a higher rank. Which set of lines from act I, scene V, of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night shows Olivia's interest in Cesario's (Viola's) social rank when Viola tries to woo Olivia on Orsino's behalf? OLIVIA: Get you to your lord: I cannot love him: let him send no more, Unless, perchance, you come to me again, To tell me how he takes it. Fare you well. I thank you for your pains: spend this for me VIOLA: I am no fee'd post, lady, keep your purse; My master, not myself, lacks recompense. Love make his heart of flint that you shall love. And let your fervour, like my master's, be Placed in contempt' Farewell, tair cruelty. [Exit] OLIVIA. What is your parentage? 'Above my fortunes, yet my state is well. I am a gentleman'-rill be sworn thou art, Thy tongue, thy face, thy limbs, actions, and spirit, Do give thee five-fold blazon. Not too fast-soft, soft! Unless the master were the man-How now? Even so quickly may one catch the plague?

In Elizabethan times, a person's social position was very important. Someone of a lower rank could not marry a person of a higher rank.
Which set of lines from act I, scene V, of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night shows Olivia's interest in Cesario's (Viola's) social rank when Viola tries to woo Olivia on Orsino's behalf?

OLIVIA: Get you to your lord:
I cannot love him: let him send no more,
Unless, perchance, you come to me again,
To tell me how he takes it. Fare you well.
I thank you for your pains: spend this for me
VIOLA: I am no fee'd post, lady, keep your purse;
My master, not myself, lacks recompense.
Love make his heart of flint that you shall love.
And let your fervour, like my master's, be
Placed in contempt' Farewell, tair cruelty.
[Exit]
OLIVIA. What is your parentage?
'Above my fortunes, yet my state is well.
I am a gentleman'-rill be sworn thou art,
Thy tongue, thy face, thy limbs, actions, and spirit,
Do give thee five-fold blazon. Not too fast-soft, soft!
Unless the master were the man-How now?
Even so quickly may one catch the plague?
Transcript text: In Elizabethan times, a person's social position was very important. Someone of a lower rank could not marry a person of a higher rank. Which set of lines from act I, scene V, of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night shows Olivia's interest in Cesario's (Viola's) social rank when Viola tries to woo Olivia on Orsino's behalf? OLIVIA: Get you to your lord: I cannot love him: let him send no more, Unless, perchance, you come to me again, To tell me how he takes it. Fare you well. I thank you for your pains: spend this for me VIOLA: I am no fee'd post, lady, keep your purse; My master, not myself, lacks recompense. Love make his heart of flint that you shall love. And let your fervour, like my master's, be Placed in contempt' Farewell, tair cruelty. [Exit] OLIVIA. What is your parentage? 'Above my fortunes, yet my state is well. I am a gentleman'-rill be sworn thou art, Thy tongue, thy face, thy limbs, actions, and spirit, Do give thee five-fold blazon. Not too fast-soft, soft! Unless the master were the man-How now? Even so quickly may one catch the plague?
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The answer is: "What is your parentage? 'Above my fortunes, yet my state is well. I am a gentleman'-rill be sworn thou art, Thy tongue, thy face, thy limbs, actions, and spirit, Do give thee five-fold blazon."

Explanation: In this passage from Act I, Scene V of Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night," Olivia's interest in Cesario's (Viola's) social rank is evident when she inquires about Cesario's parentage. This question directly addresses the social hierarchy and the importance of knowing someone's background and status. Olivia's subsequent lines, where she acknowledges Cesario's noble demeanor and attributes, further emphasize her consideration of social rank. She notes that Cesario's qualities are befitting of a gentleman, which indicates her awareness and concern for social standing. This reflects the Elizabethan societal norms where social position was crucial, and marriages or relationships across different social ranks were generally frowned upon.

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