Twelfth Night Essay

Twelfth Night Motifs
William Shakespeare presents a multitude of motifs in his comedy, Twelfth Night. The play reflects
on the dangers or risks of messages and exposes character conflicts and motives. The repetition of the
motif through characters' speeches and actions allows Shakespeare to capture the different facets of
human emotion and interaction. The outcome of communicating messages to others differ, as the
response can either be freeing or destructive. Shakespeare's Twelfth Night integrates the dynamics of
communication into the play in order to display the power of messages over human emotions,
disguises, and motives.
Shakespeare reveals that communication has the power to both warn of the dangers of messages
and the power to reveal the truth. Orsino's poetic allusions lead Viola to fall in love with him. He
says to her as Cesario, "Thou know'st no less but all. I have unclasped / To thee the book even of my
secret soul" (1.4.14–15). Orsino's use of literary symbolism of allows Viola to utilize her ability to
see a person's true character to connect Orsino's emotions to a "book." Comparing his emotions to a
"book" suggests that literature is the strongest power over humans. In the three days she has been
his messenger, Orsino has confided in her his most internal thoughts and revealed that she opens the
"book" of his "secret soul." Soon after, Viola tells Olivia...show more content...
The poems in Twelfth Night symbolize both the values and the concealed risks of messages.
When that form of communication is composed from the heart, it has the power to bring a
character closer to falling in love. Messages in the form of objects can easily mislead and confuse
a character, thus adulterating the true meaning of the message. Olivia's message foreshadows
Viola's internal conflicts, as she soon realizes that Olivia's trick places her in a miserable love
triangle where she loves Orsino, but he loves Olivia, and Olivia loves
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Twelfth Night
'Twelfth Night' focuses on the conventions of Comedy itself. Comedy has to have a resolution,
usually with all the characters ending up happy, but not before the audience are taken on a journey
of twists and turns through trickery and wit as well as many complexities before tying everything
up in the end in a final climax. Shakespeare's 'Twelfth Night' is a prime example of this. In 'Twelfth
Night', there is the main plot – a love triangle, disguise and misinterpretation– which provides some
Comedy but more importantly, there is the accompanying subplot featuring Maria, Sir Toby Belch,
Sir Andrew Aguecheek and Malvolio which brings the focus of Comedy directly to them. Maria's
ties and connections with the main plot are important as it gives her insight...show more content...
Shakespeare's intentions with Maria are clear here; her plans are slowly but surely being put in
place for the downfall of Malvolio. Shakespeare's use of negative language is critical to Maria's
speech as well as Shakespeare's use of imagery, when Maria speaks of Olivia's dislike towards the
colour, she does not just say she dislikes it, the use of the word "abhors" shows Olivia thinks that
it is the most disgusting colour to exist. The word "detest" reiterates the disgust that Olivia will
feel when she lays eyes upon Malvolio. Malvolio will look so stupid that he will be a "notable
contempt" because he has had the nerve to "smile" whilst Olivia is "addicted to melancholy"
suggests the comparisons between there dispositions and demeanours will be so severely different
that it will elicit laughter. Shakespeare's clever use of wording creates the image of how ridiculous
Malvolio will look in front of Olivia. Once again Maria exits the stage and Shakespeare reinforces
dramatic tension through this exit therefore leaving the audience desperate to know what happens

Twelfth Night Madness Essay
In a Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare there are many themes portrayed but the most
prevalent was the topic of madness. The play Twelfth Night shows us that madness is merely a
perception. This will be proved by three main proofs as seen in the play. These proofs are;
Sebastian's view of Olivia and himself, the household's view of Malvolio, and Orsino's descent into
"madness". Various paraphernalia from the play such as quotes and examples from the play will be
used to demonstrate the perceived changes of madness towards these characters.
To begin, Sebastian's constantly fluent view of Olivia will be explored. When Sebastian first meets
Olivia, he is conflicted with emotions. He believes that Olivia is very beautiful and he will definitely
...show more content...
At the beginning Orsino has an infatuation with Olivia before even meeting her because tales are
told about her beauty. When Olivia and Orsino meet for the first time he says, "If music be the food
of love, play on. Give me excess of it, that, surfeiting, The appetite may sicken and so die" (1.1.
1–3). This shows that the Duke's passion has already grown past healthy levels. This can be seen by
him insinuating that his desire needs to be sated which isn't healthy for either recipient. Orsino
continues to fervently pursue Olivia throughout Twelfth Night by giving Cesario sickening notes
begging Olivia to accept his proposal and to return his love. However the Duke may not be
infatuated with Olivia especially, he could be an eager, over–passionate lover. This is proved when
near the end of the play when Viola's true identity is revealed. Olivia reveals her affections for
Sebastian and the fact that they already married. Orsino is momentarily in disbelief but then
Viola declares her love for him and he realizes all of her advice for Olivia was meant for him. This
causes him to declare her his fancy queen and that he wishes to see her in a lady's clothes "Give me
thy hand and let me see thee in thy woman's weeds" (5.1 279–280). His actions and sudden shift in
attraction proves that the Duke is perhaps a lonely bachelor who

Twelfth Night Essay
Twelfth Night Essay Twelfth Night is a comedy and a marvel. This play conveys many messages
that are seen by the audience, but not seen by the characters in the play. There are many points
involving love, friendship, conflicts and confusion. Twelfth Night displays characters that are mad,
in love, and desperate for love. Twelfth Night has many conflicts that occur because characters fail
to listen to messages. Viola is a character who has just thought that her brother has died in a
shipwreck that they were both in. Viola disguises herself as a man to seek employment under the
Duke Orsino's court. The confusion occurs, when Viola tells Orsino that she loves someone
(Orsino), when she tells Olivia that she cannot love a woman, and when...show more content...
She also speaks in a different manner than most men around her, which makes her a bit different.
She does not like to fight, and does not act like a drunk. Viola/Cesario also speaks to Olivia about
not loving a woman. Viola admits to Olivia that she is someone who cannot, and will not love
another woman. Olivia, having fallen in love with Cesario/Viola, is blinded by love and does listen
to Viola's important words. As Viola tries to tell Olivia that she cannot love her, Olivia just falls
even more in love, which creates much more confusion between them. Viola, being annoyed with
Olivia's stubborn character, says something that snaps Olivia out of her dream world. "Then think
you right. I am not what I am." (III.I. 145–150) Viola hints to Olivia, as she did to Orsino, that she is
different from her actual appearance. These characters, such as Olivia and Orsino, have gotten so
caught up in their love, and search for love that they have caused confusion for all. Olivia's and
Orsino's behaviour affects them personally. Olivia tries to convince Cesario/Viola to love her, but
Viola, being intelligent, replies to Olivia. "I pity you." (III.I. 125–130) Viola explains her pity for
Olivia, because she sees, how desperate Olivia is for love. No man would have responded this way
to a lady such as Olivia, which shows some more of Viola's true personality and character. Viola has
told Olivia her true feelings towards

Twelfth Night Essay
In Shakespeare's play, Twelfth Night or What you Will, the characters are involved in a plot
complete with trickery, disguise, and love. Each character is defined not by his or her gender or true
identity, but by the role they are forced to take because of the complicated situation that arises.
Unlike their gender, the speech the characters give an insight to their true personalities. In the
Twelfth Night, the character Duke Orsino uses flowery and over–dramatic language, long poetic
sentence structure, and melodramatic metaphors to display his overemotional romantic nature
despite the different emotions in his various speeches. Duke Orsino's repeated usage of poetical
verse and poetic devices to describe his woes from love set him...show more content...
Enough no more!" (1.1.6–7). He accentuates his original metaphor by personifying music and
comparing it to a breeze that carries the flowers odor with it. Until line 8, Orsino does not mention
his love explicitly. Instead, he establishes the feeling of yearning by referring to symbols of love
such as music and flowers. Orsino ends his long speech with, "Even in a minute, So full of shapes is
fancy./ That it alone is high fantastical." (1.1.14–15). By stating that love is a wonderful figment of
imagination, Orsino reinforces the previous metaphorical and vague language he uses in the
beginning of the speech. "That it [love] alone is high fantastical" (1.1.15) also shows that he is a
true romantic because he is in love with the concept of love rather than the person themselves.
Furthermore, he line, "...Enough no more!" (1.1.7) contradicts with the previous line, "Give me
excess of it, that, surfeiting," (1.1.4) which proves that Orsino is very dramatic in character because
he constantly vacillates in his actions and desires. He is emotionally unstable at times in the play and
thus acquires a dramatic behavior.
In Act 5, Orsino delivers a speech to Olivia in order to express his broken heart and pine over his
unreciprocated feelings. However, by drawing out the speech with allusions, excessive language, and
metaphors, Shakespeare portrays Orsino as an overemotional and romance–driven character.
Compared to Orsino's first

Themes In Twelfth Night
Understanding Shakespeare's Twelfth Night
Shakespeare's Twelfth Night is one of his most beloved plays. There are several notable themes that
construct the play that makes twelfth night a great play. Many elements within the play take on
what it was like during Shakespeare's time, while others talk about political commentary. The play
talks about the main character Viola and her disguise as a man, while looking for her brother
Sebastian. Her disguise creates a lot of misperception; many would say Twelfth Night shines light on
sexuality; however it is the reader's exploration into Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, in which they will
explore the many possible truths and understanding of the play. Exploring the themes of gender
identity, love, madness and death, readers will have a better understanding the play an how each of
the themes connect.
Shakespeare's play has allowed for many readers and scholars to speculate its deeper meanings.
The play itself focuses on Viola's disguise as a man that ends up causing confusion and unwanted
love. Yet, it's the only way Viola can find her brother. Some could say that when Olivia falls for
Viola (Cesario), Viola have questioned herself because Oliva was so in love with Cesario, even
though she tells Olivia, bluntly that she cannot fall in love with her.(). This is strange for
Shakespeare to have a woman playing a man, since in his time all the men would play the women
roles and it was perfectly normal. One can imagine during

Analysis of "Twelfth Night" Essay
William Shakespeare, arguably the most important writer in all of English
Literature, is certainly the most influential playwright of the English Renaissance. Born in 1564 in
Stratford–upon–Avon in rural northern England, he was the son of a middle class glove maker.
Competing against such illustrious company as Christopher Marlowe and Ben Johnson, Shakespeare
quickly became one of the most popular playwrights in the city of London, and a favourite of the
monarch, the powerful Queen Elizabeth I. Shakespeare wrote thirty–eight plays. "Twelfth Night" was
written near the middle of Shakespeare' career, around 1601, and most critics consider it as one of
his greatest comedies.
"Twelfth Night" is about illusion, deception, disguises,...show more content...
He twisted Olivia's words (from a fake letter) around to make it sounds like she will admire his
yellow cross–gathered stockings, when she really despises them, considering him as a mad. Feste,
the clown, said: .".Madam, why laugh you at such a barren rascal, and you smile not he's gagg'd:
and thus the whirligig of time brings in his revenge", and by doing so, Feste criticizes Malvolio's
overestimation, when at their first meeting Malvolio said: "I marvel your lady takes delight in such
a barren rascal." Through doing this, he shows himself to be a man who condescends to those that
he believes to be lower than him, acting on his own personal belief of superiority. Thus, this
self–inflated sour character is brought to his knees, unlocked in darkness, because he was
considered as a "madman", and he "holds Belzebub at the stave's end as well as man in his case may
do." This was done through a fake love–letter written by Maria, and when Malvolio appears, he
shows the letter arguing that it set off his madness, which he signed as: "The MADLY–US'D
MALVOLIO." Thus, self–love, pride, desire to climb the social ladder, and to burn the social class
boundaries, all these factors drove Malvolio to a state of madness, as a consequence he was
humiliated, leading to his downfall. By humiliating him, even Puritanism is mocked. Malvolio
symbolized Puritanism (strict values, no fancy...), and due to the fact that the joke was around his
new dresses for Olivia, yellow socks, smiles, the

twelfth night Essay
Twelfth Night Essay While many will agree that Shakespeare's Twelfth Night is critically acclaimed
to be one of the most entertaining and well–liked pieces that he has written, there tends to be a
discrepancy over how the characters in the play are portrayed when it comes to the importance of
gender roles. After reading James C Bulman's article over the Globe's more recent performance of
Twelfth Night and Shakespeare's original written version, I realized that there are many ways that
this famous piece has been portrayed and each has its own pros and cons. Shakespeare's Twelfth
Night examines patterns of love and courtship through a twisting of gender roles. The play centers
on the lead female role and protagonist, Viola, who...show more content...
I honestly don't believe that one's opinion on same–sex couples has any importance when it comes to
transvestite versus traditional role–play on stage. An author or director's utmost goal is to
successfully present his/her work in a way that makes the audience members feel as if they are
apart of the show like they were one of the characters themselves. In other words, it is all about
believability. If the play calls for a young female character then I am more likely to follow along
when a female actor is playing that role. On the contrary, I would be distracted focusing on the
male actor trying to portray a female role. In all versions of Twelfth Night, however, the roles are
so convoluted that it is difficult to say which would be more believable: Viola/Cesario played by a
female actress or male actor. For example, in Nunn's film, the scene where Orsino is in the tub and
asks young Cesario to help him bathe, it wouldn't make any difference in believability whether the
actor was male or female since our minds have already had to entertain the thought of Viola
representing both a man and a woman. Others may disagree and say that the sex of the actor
/actresses would not have an effect on their acceptance of the play. As previously stated, it is
entirely a personal matter. If it were up to me to direct this play I would do traditional casting, like
Nunn had done, with men playing male characters and women playing female

Essay about Shakespeare's Twelfth Night
Shakespeare's Twelfth Night
A study of William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, showing how Shakespeare's choice of form,
structure and language shape meaning
Wit, and't be thy will, put me into good fooling! Those wits that think they have thee do very oft
prove fools; and I that am sure I lack thee may pass for a wise man. For what says Quinapalus?
'Better a witty fool than a foolish wit.'
Shakespeare's plays were written to be performed to an audience from different social classes and of
varying levels of intellect. Thus they contain down–to–earth characters who appeal to the working
classes, side–by–side with complexities of plot which would satisfy the appetites of the aristocrats
among the audience. His contemporary status...show more content...
This witty remark is a clear indication of his aloofness from the events of the play. He can look upon
the unfolding scenario with the detachment of an outsider due to his minimal involvement with the
action. Feste is a roaming entertainer who has the advantage of not having to take sides; he is an
observer not a participant.
Another illustration of the way in which Shakespeare uses form to give meaning is in the dialogue
between Viola and the Duke Orsino in Act 2 scene 4, where one line of iambic pentameter is
frequently shared by the two characters. For example:
Viola: I should your Lordship.
Orsino: ...................................... And what's her history?
. . .
Viola: Sir, shall I to this lady?
Orsino: ..................................... Ay, that's the theme.
The merging of the characters' half–lines into one whole line is cleverly used by Shakespeare to
show that the two characters are destined to be together. This technique of linking lines, which
Shakespeare uses elsewhere, for example in Romeo and Juliet, shows the balance that the two
characters provide for each other. This is an example of how he uses the form of language to aid the
actors in portraying the characters in the way he intends.
Structure
The structure of a Shakespeare play also contributes to its meaning. In most of his plays there is a
pattern consisting of three main sections:

Exposition – establishing the main character relationships in

Twelfth Night Essay
Although he doesn't seem to learn or develop much through the duration of the play, Feste is no dull
character. In fact, Feste is known as one of Shakespeare's greatest, most interesting and well–written
characters. The complexity of Feste's speech and each of his interactions with other characters reveal
multiple important perspectives and roles that help contribute to the play. In Twelfth Night,
Shakespeare puts a spin on the importance of Feste's role by casting him as Olivia's licensed fool, the
play's commentator and a connection joint towards the reality of the audience as well as for the
play's storyline. Through his frequent witty comments, Feste's extensive intelligence of the other
characters shines through as he pinpoints their...show more content...
Nearing the end of the play, it is Feste who brings the two together as he enters with Malvolio's
letter, delivering his release which he notes with slight irony, "Look then to be well edified, when the
fool delivers the madman." (5.1.291–2). By doing so, Feste prepares for the story's ending by
connecting the two main halves of Twelfth Night's plot and concludes the play as a whole.
Another perspective of Feste as the play's "connector" include bridging the gap between the
audience and the characters they see or read about in the play. As part of his job, Feste often
entertains through song whether it be about love, death or the meaning of life. However the songs
he sings offer more insight and meaning than they appear to have at face value. For example the
song he sings for the Duke, "Come away, come away, death,/ And in sad cypress let me be laid..."
(2.4.51–66) laments the sorrow and heartache of unrequited love; so much that the ballad's
heartbroken lover wants to be buried in secret so that his lover will not weep or mourn his death .
Although he sings this song for the Duke, the emotions expressed can also apply to Viola in her
concealed love for the Duke, as well as to Olivia in her desperate pursuit for "Cesario's" affections.
Despite the play being a comedy, Feste manages to add a touch of solemnity and melancholy where
appropriate to help bond and connect with the emotions of the audience through that of the
characters, while still giving the audience a sense of

Twelfth Night Essay

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