appreciation of the things around you

The event I attended was a celebration of not only Loyola, but also of creativity. Duff Goldman both the baker and owner of Charm City Cakes (Ace of Cakes) made a unique cake to celebrate the new humanities building on campus. The cake was beautiful and was a rich vanilla flavor with a great vanilla icing (at least the edible part). The cake was made to be a replica or representation of the new humanitarian building.
“Twelfth Night” is a clever, love story. Ultimately, almost everyone ends up with who they really want to be with or love (perhaps a little unrealistic). Moreover, the story presents many themes and ideas all throughout the text. The idea of staying true to oneself, and always being honest is threaded throughout the play. Another issue is what truly defines real love. Also, the issue of who people should put first – themselves or others – is demonstrated. The young Viola disguised as a man is what sets up the entire story to ultimately address these ideas. The image of Viola being a man is what allows reality to be reached, just as the Ace of Cake’s cake is what brings the real building into perspective.
In “Twelfth Night,” there is an occurrence of a representation of the real thing – Viola disguises herself as a man, calling herself Cesario. She in a sense “replicates” a man. Just as the cake was to the new Loyola building, Viola is true to the qualities of this man she creates but to herself as well. It is a consistent representation. Never once does Viola not stay true to how she is actually feeling, even though she is disguised as someone completely differently. For example, Viola says (as Cesario) to Olivia, “What I am, and what I would, are as secret as maidenhead…”(15) Viola in fact indirectly tells Olivia that she is not who she says she is, which is in fact completely true. Also, when the Duke asks Viola (Cesario) if she is in love, she truthfully answers “yes.” Viola also indirectly tells the Duke it is him, staying true to what she feels. The Duke asks Viola (Cesario), “What kind of woman is’t?” and Viola replies, “Of your complexion”(26). Then Viola says the “woman” is about the Duke’s age as well. The main concept is that she never once is untruthful. Viola makes the reader appreciate people who tell the truth, just as Goldman’s cake makes the audience celebrate the humanities building. Also, indirectly, both these items can helps people appreciate Baltimore for what is truly is. It is a diverse city that has both its ups and downs, and room for much charity/development.
The unique cake celebrates the new humanities building at Loyola, and Viola’s creation, Cesario, seems to create a celebration of love. Viola is the one who expresses the truth is what she feels, which is totally in love. As the Charm City cake makes the audience appreciate the new construction more, Viola makes the reader appreciate true love, and is the person who really defines it. When Olivia asks Viola what she(he) would do if she was in love with Olivia, Viola replies, “Make me a willow cabin at your gate, And call upon my soul within the house”(16). Viola is the one that shows dedication to what she loves, for she would build a house next to her lover so she could court him everyday. Moreover, The contrast of Viola’s action and the Duke’s actions is crucial to the story. The Duke sends people to go pursue Olivia for him, showing no personal effort. This is where the reader learns to decipher who really expresses true love – Viola shows dedication and determination, for she would not leave the side of the one she loves even when problems arise. There is a complete lack of movement from the Duke. Never once does he try to talk to Olivia at her house; this is a true sign of laziness. The Duke could be lazy because he is not actually in love, but in love with the idea of being in love. The Duke could be showing no determination because he does not know what he is determined to get. In some sense, he is lost, and does not know what truly defines love. Viola is the character that makes the reader actually appreciate love, because she is the one who actually feels it.
Through it all though, there is a connection between Viola representing true love (the reality of love), and the cake of the humanities building representing and allowing the appreciation of the new construction. To extend this even farther, the event and the cake its self is a celebration of the city of Baltimore. Ace of Cakes is in fact in Baltimore, and the cakes are technically products of the city. Perhaps people can realize how much Baltimore has to offer. Viola’s representation of reality can also be connected to reaching reality about the city – the city needs help. We, being the people of the city, are the ones who must reach out, and make the reality of Baltimore better. Also, we being the people of the city must realize what truly defines love for ourselves. For some, maybe love should be the love or happiness we receive for doing good things in our community; that could be what makes us truly happy.
Viola is the prime example of a person who is selfless. Viola, disguised as Cesario, falls in love with the Duke. However, nothing holds her back from still pursuing Olivia for the Duke, for she wants the Duke to be happy even if it is with someone else. Viola says, “I’ll do my best to woo your lady – Yet, a barful strife – Whoe’er I woo, myself would be his wife”(9). Viola wants to be his wife! This is a contrasting character to Sir Toby, who uses Sir Andrew for his money to go out and drink. Sir Toby says to Sir Andrew in reference to their partying lives, “Thou’rt a scholar; let us therefore eat and drink. Marian, I say! A stoup of wine!”(20) All along Sir Toby keeps Sir Andrew around by deceiving him, making him think that Olivia has true feelings for him. The difference in these characters really emphasizes Viola’s altruism, and can actually make the reader hope she wins the Duke over. Viola in a sense makes the reader come to the epiphany that he/she hopes most of his/her friends or peers would not act selfishly – Viola makes the reader appreciate people that put others before themselves. When connecting both the cake and Viola’s character both exemplifying appreciation and celebration, people must celebrate the city of Baltimore. But also, the reader can take Viola’s selfless at hand. Perhaps we should all be a little more selfless and think of others more. Instead of being lazy, we could recycle every recyclable bottle in the parking lots of our college dorms to help our environment. We could also help out our community and the people of Baltimore city, even in small ways. They seem to be the ones that are most in need.