Samuel Johnson criticised 'Twelfth Night' because it 'lacked credibility and failed to present a true picture of life' so is 'Twelfth Night' just a pantomime?

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Twelfth Night

Samuel Johnson criticised ‘Twelfth Night’ because it ‘lacked credibility and failed to present a true picture of life’ so is ‘Twelfth Night’ just a pantomime?

        Today many people think of ‘Twelfth Night’ as a time to put decorations away and check there are no more pine needles in the carpets. Some people enjoy taking their energetic children to see a pleasant pantomime and let their favourite fairy-tales be performed in front of their eyes.

        However in Elizabethan times the twelve days following Christmas were a time for a mixture of emotions; disguise, madness and boisterous frivolity. So common sense and sanity were not part of these twelve days after Christmas. As these were days when a topsy-turvy festive world of fools and confusion was created as people swapped roles e.g. masters become servants and servants had control of their masters. It was a time of excitement for everyone. But sadly it was a momentary pleasure for as soon as the sixth of January came round times went back to normal.

‘Twelfth Night’ has elements from mummer’s plays dating back as far as the thirteenth century and even has elements the same as today’s pantomimes. The elements included are cross-dressing, bawdy humour and daft slapstick sword fights.

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        Traditionally in mummers plays there are men dressing as women e.g. dames and this is also present in pantomimes. ‘Twelfth Night’ also has this humorous factor as Viola cross-dresses as Cesario.

        Similarly all three types of plays have some kind of amusing fight like the pleasing half hearted sword fight between Cesario and the pathetic Sir Andrew in ‘Twelfth Night.’ Even though the fights aren’t real or serious they capture the audience’s attention and spirit. Mummer’s plays and pantomimes also include this fun aspect.

        There is a huge amount of suspension of belief in ‘Twelfth Night’ as the audience will ...

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