No Love for Antonio?

In Act IV of this play, the relationship between Sebastian and Antonio has become well more defined, yet complexes at the same time. When Olivia drags Sebastian away, she mistakes Sebastian as his twin sister, Viola. We know that Olivia is in love with Cesario (Viola’s disguise) and not Sebastian. When Sebastian is considering Olivia’s offer for him to marry him, he becomes confused and ponders a scenario where Antonio is by his side:

His [Antonio] counsel now might do me golden service;

For though my soul disputes well with my sense

That this may be some error, but no madness,

Yet doth this accident and flood of fortune

So far exceed all instance, all discourse,

That I am ready to distrust mine eyes

And wrangle with my reason that persuades me

To any other trust but that I am mad,

Or else the lady’s mad. (4.3 9-15)

It becomes clearer to the audience how important of a character Antonio is to Sebastian. Without him, Sebastian could have thought twice about marrying Olivia and possibly revealing Sebastian’s true identity to Olivia. Antonio is the only person in this play that actually makes sense to Sebastian. Perceived by Sebastian, all the characters are new to him and their actions against him are without and reason. It would make sense for Sebastian to be more trusting and open to Antonio than to any other character in this play. There has been speculation that Sebastian and Antonio have acquired a romantic relationship for each other. Although it may be common in Shakespeare’s time for friendship to be as strong as marriage, it does not appear that Sebastian has romantic feelings towards Antonio like how Olivia feels about Cesario. Sebastian instead plans to marry Olivia. It is interesting that Shakespeare has the audience think more actively about Antonio and Sebastian because of their same sex relationship. This does not come without conclusion for the rest of the play, only to Act IV. Shakespeare could find a way to have Antonio come out and actually have romantic feelings towards Sebastian, creating more complex love relationships for the climax of this play.