If music be the food of love, play on, give me excess of it; that surfeiting, the appetite may sicken, and so die

If music be the food of love, play on, give me excess of it; that surfeiting, the appetite may sicken, and so die

The quote “If music be the food of love, play on, give me excess of it; that surfeiting, the appetite may sicken, and so die” is from William Shakespeare’s play Twelfth Night. This line is spoken by Duke Orsino in Act 1, Scene 1 of the play. In this scene, Duke Orsino is pining for the love of the Countess Olivia, and he is feeling overwhelmed by his emotions. He asks for music to be played in order to drown out his feelings and distract himself from his unrequited love.

The metaphor of music being the food of love is a powerful one, as it suggests that music has the ability to nourish and sustain love. Duke Orsino’s request for “excess” of music reflects his desire to drown himself in the sounds of music in order to numb his feelings of love. However, he also acknowledges that too much of a good thing can lead to satiety, or surfeiting, which can ultimately lead to the death of desire.

This quote highlights the theme of love and desire in Twelfth Night, as well as the idea of the power of music to evoke and manipulate emotions. Music is often used in Shakespeare’s plays to convey the characters’ inner thoughts and feelings, and in this case, it serves as a means of escape for Duke Orsino.

The use of the word “surfeiting” in this quote is significant, as it suggests that an excess of something can lead to a loss of appetite or desire. Duke Orsino’s request for excess of music is a reflection of his own overwhelming emotions and his desire to escape from them. However, he also recognizes that this excess can lead to a loss of appetite, or in this case, a loss of desire for love.

Overall, this quote from Twelfth Night captures the complex and often contradictory nature of love and desire. It also highlights the power of music to evoke and manipulate emotions, as well as the idea that too much of a good thing can ultimately lead to its demise.