Twelfth Night

As the characters recite numerous words of their love felt for one another—there is still a sort of dark undertone. In act three scene one, Olivia says “love’s night is noon” can be translated as so. The manipulation of Malvolio’s emotion that was mastered by Maria and Sir toby would allow Malvolio who seemed dark and monotone in the original text allowed to show his lighter side in the visual version of this work. Having a visual allows the audience to see the shift from Malvolio’s tunnel vision and straight-laced restricted way of living to a person whom seemed to be set free through his delightful dancing in gratitude of what he thought being Viola’s love for him. Feste sings a song in the end that is written in the original text and translated into a visual form in the filmed version, but Nunn placed the fool as he was in the first scene allowing the story to come full circle in the end. The fool seem to identify with the broader perspective of the story. The words of the song told a story of nothing really matters when someone has a goal to accomplish or some who strives for something nothing can break the rhythm. “For the rain it raineth everyday” was a running theme of the song letting us in on continuous rain, but somehow continue to strive to please

However, his statement “Thou say thou art a man.” (Act I, Scene V, line 30) Is short, blunt and definite, proving that he is in fact oblivious to her deception. This is yet another example of dramatic irony, as only the audience and Viola are aware of her true identity. This irony shows us that Orsino has been outsmarted by a female, straying from the traditional patriarchal views of women and consequentially reinforcing Dusinberre’s critique of the text. In our modern society, with this current new wave of feminism, this message is particularly relevant, and so would arguably have a greater impact on an audience than the shame felt from Twelfth Night would. If it is to have a greater effect, then it is superior to Shakespeare’s evocation of shame, and thus feeling ashamed cannot be the ultimate effect of Shakespeare’s Twelfth

Much of the first half of the Twelfth Night is about disguised identities and general misconceptions about who is actually who. The play opens on a note of melancholy and death, Orsino grieving because Olivia refuses to love him and Viola and Olivia mourning the deaths of their brothers. It is following a shipwreck that Viola disguises herself as a male, ensuring that confusion will be part of the plot. The idea of masquerading as a member of the opposite sex is a familiar device and the “complications, artificial as they may appear, are an essential part of the play’s complete development.” (Travers 308) It is interesting to note that unlike other comedies such as “The Tempest”, Shakespeare does not create an older generation who prevent the young lovers from being together; instead it is the perplexity about gender and that keeps them apart. Sebastian, Viola’s identical twin, is the solution to all of the problems, though his appearance does add to it for a short while. Viola, dressed as Cesario, is mistaken for Sebastian by Antonio, and is asked for the money that he gave to Sebastian. However, this type of confusion adds to the comic nature of the plot as the audience is aware of the concealed identities. Order eventually comes from the chaos, disguises are shed and identities are revealed. The appearance of Sebastian ensures that the marriage will be possible for the main characters; Viola is free to marry Orsino and Olivia marries Sebastian, although she

Throughout the twelfth night  a play by William Shakespeare, the author conveys the theme of impulsive decisions

This essay will examine the use and effectiveness of dramatic irony in Twelfth Night. Dramatic irony is a widely used literary device that is usually used in plays to convey comedy or create tension between the audience and characters. A dramatic irony is a form of irony which occurs when the audience’s awareness of the situation is more than that of the characters in the scene. This could create tension between the audience and characters as well as add a comic element to the play.

As Feste is arriving at Olivia’s house, he encounters Sebastian (who he thinks is Cesario). Sir Toby and Sir Andrew then comes across them (thinking that Sebastian is Cesario also) and remembers the dual they had a few minutes ago. Sir Andrew then attacks him. But Sebastian, unlike Viola is a strong and brave fighter and while he is fighting he states, “Why, there’s for thee, and there,/ and there. Are all the people mad” (IV, i, 23-24)?

Olivia, being donned with compliments and confessions of love by Orsino, seems to find this rather refreshing and is attracted to Cesario. Olivia falls in love with Cesario's nature. For too long she has been subject to the melodramatic proclamations of love from Orsino, when into her household comes a young, candid, informal young "man". Viola's interpretation of a man is more that of a boy, and she exudes a certain charm that Olivia finds a cool refreshment from the stuffy "love" that Orsino tried to smother her with. Cesario is easy to relate to due to his feminine personality and appearance.

Maria’s letter to Malvolio, which purports to be from Olivia, is a deliberate (and successful) attempt to trick the steward. Another example is when Sir Andrew writes a letter demanding a duel with Cesario over Olivia. Individuals are also employed in the place of written communication—Orsino repeatedly sends Cesario, for instance, to deliver messages to Olivia. Messages can convey important information, but they also create the potential for miscommunication and confusion—especially with characters like Maria and Sir Toby manipulating the information. All of these actions are fueled by love and hate, and most of the characters involved suffer at some

Olivia praises Cesario's beauty and then addresses him with the belief that his "scorn" (134) only reveals his hidden love. However, Olivia's mistaken interpretation of Cesario's manner is only the surface problem presented by her speech. The reality of Cesario's gender, the active role Olivia takes in pursuing him/her, and the duality of word meanings in this passage threaten to turn the traditional patriarchal concept of courtship upside down, or as Olivia says turn "night to noon" (139). Every character in the play is involved in a situation where they think one person is someone else. These situations lead to turmoil and humor in the play.

It is well known that Malvolio thinks highly of himself and has a huge ego. Using Malvolio’s over inflated image of himself and greedy desire to advance in rank against him, the trio drop a letter that Malvolio is meant to find. Maria’s handwriting looks just like Olivia so they use this along with other well written “hints” to deceive Malvolio into thinking that Olivia has fallen in love with him. The letter also contains weird things that “Olivia” wishes that Malvolio would do, but Olivia hates these things. Some examples include telling Malvolio to smile all the time even though Olivia is mourning her brother’s death, having him wear yellow stockings and laces even though Olivia hates the way they look, and including in the letter that “Olivia” wishes he would act like the social rank he desires by being rude to the servants. This grand deception by the trio adds a great deal of humor as the audience knows that he is just making a fool of himself, but Malvolio is none the wiser and acts proud of himself. Malvolio’s strange actions due to the trio’s deception leads him to be thrown in prison because he is assumed to gone insane or be possessed by some

Critics of William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, such as L. G. Salingar in his essay “The Design of Twelfth Night,” constantly dwell upon its inconsistency of happiness. Indeed, Twelfth Night is a romantic comedy of joy that brings audience laughter and applause. Yet, under the atmosphere of mirth and liberty suggested by Twelfth Night, a Saturnalian Carnival where pleasure rules, we are constantly reminded of misery, hatred, and depression. Over the course of different character’s pursuit in “what [they] will”, we witness their conflict, laugh at their madness, sense the darkness in their society, and ultimately cast doubt on whether this immoderate pleasure will sustain. Through his use of multiple foils, Shakespeare guides his audience to unfold the limits of festivity.

Maria and the conspirators decide to mislead Malvolio into thinking that Olivia is in love with him. Maria decides to lead him on by writing a letter, but means to be from Olivia. This love letter is meant to instruct Malvolio to do actions that Olivia despises. Maria is able to mislead Malvolio because she has the same print and seal as Olivia. Shakespeare is able to trick the characters and create many portrayals of them.

The Bittersweet Comedy of Twelfth Night Twelfth night is a name commonly given to the Christian feast of the Epiphany which is celebrated on the 6th of January. On this day we remember the coming of the Magi and the taking down of decorations which is a sad occasion for many but also a happy occasion as new times are beginning. Twelfth Night is a romantic comedy, and romantic love is the play’s main focus. Despite the fact that the play offers a happy ending, in which the various lovers find one another and achieve wedded bliss, Shakespeare shows that love can cause pain.

Another example is the way in which Olivia adopts the pretence of mourning and the puritanical Malvolio is tricked into the role of Olivia's suitor and becomes a smiling courtier.

Twelfth Night is a great Christian holiday that marks the Feast of the Epiphany. It is celebrated by playing pranks on one another-, which usually result in confusion and chaos. Hence the title of the play- as it’s subject revolves around confusion and chaos as well. In Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, confusion and chaos are shown in multiple ways. Confusion of identity creates the love triangle between Duke Orsino, Viola /“Cesario” and Olivia while confusion and chaos plays it’s role in the prank on Malvolio. Furthermore, chaos transpires when Antonio mistakes “Cesario” for Sebastian- since the two look alike.