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What kind of women does Orsino believe that men should marry?

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Final answer:

Orsino likely envisions that men should marry chaste, passive women who conform to traditional views of femininity, including maintaining physical appearance and a modest demeanor, reflecting the era's gender expectations.

Step-by-step explanation:

The character Orsino in literature, particularly from the periods of Seneca the Younger and Ovid, seems to hold a traditional view on the qualities of women that men should marry. The women that Orsino would consider suitable for marriage would likely embody the ideals of chastity, passivity in love, and a certain level of decorum and modesty that aligns with the virtues praised by the male characters in the texts. These virtues are juxtaposed against the behaviors of women who are more outspoken, sexually assertive, or display characteristics typically assigned to men during those times, which the texts view negatively.

Seneca the Younger's writings lament the loss of traditional femininity due to women adopting vices and thus suffering diseases typical of men. In this context, a man would be encouraged to look for a chaste maiden who is untainted by the immoral behaviors observed in certain social settings. Similarly, Ovid's writings suggest that men should seek out women who maintain their physical appearance and possess youthful beauty, which was considered essential for a woman to be an acceptable partner in society at that time.

From these perspectives, Orsino might believe that men should marry women who are not only physically attractive but also align with the subdued, passive role that was traditionally expected of women. Such a stance underscores the gender norms and expectations of the era in which these authors were writing. However, this is a historical perspective, and modern views on marriage partners are much more egalitarian, focusing on mutual respect, love, and partnership.

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