Question

Twelfth Night explores uncertainty and inconstancy in love. Which lines in these excerpts from act II, scene IV, show that Duke Orsino considers men to be more easily swayed by passion than women?

1 An elder than herself; so wears she to him,
So sways she level in her husband's heart.

2 however we do praise ourselves,
Our fancies are more giddy and unfirm,
More longing, wavering, sooner lost and won,
Than women's are.

3 There is no woman's sides
Can bide the beating of so strong a passion
As love doth give my heart:

4 they lack retention.
Alas, their love may be called appetite,—
No motion of the liver, but the palate,—

5 mine is all as hungry as the sea,
And can digest as much: make no compare
Between that love a woman

Answer 1

however we do praise ourselves,

Our fancies are more giddy and unfirm,

More longing, wavering, sooner lost and won,

Than women's are.

Answer 2

The correct answer for the given question above would be option 2. Based on the given lines above from the excerpts from act II, scene IV, the lines that show that Duke Orsino considers men to be more easily swayed by passion than women is this: however we do praise ourselves,
Our fancies are more giddy and unfirm,
More longing, wavering, sooner lost and won,
Than women's are.
Hope this helps.