The dramatic irony that arises from Viola’s disguise has huge effect. First of all in Elizabethan women weren’t allowed to perform in at theatre. Therefore men had to play women roles. So in Twelfth Night the role of Viola is being played by a man who is disguised as a woman who is disguised as a man. This would have really caught the audience’s attention. The appearances in the play are deceptive and the audience knew this would have made it more humorous for the audience. “Then think you right. I am not what I am” Viola speaking to Olivia. This line is rich in dramatic irony and as the appearance is deceptive and the audience knows this it would be funny for them. Also in the play antithesis is used to highlight this further that there is a conflict in appearances.
The plot is based around a love triangle. As Viola enters Duke Orsino’s court disguised as a man, she falls in love with the Duke but she can’t declare her love for the Duke as she is disguised as a man. Duke Orsino is in love with the mourning Lady Olivia. He orders Cesario a.k.a Viola to deliver his love letters to the lady but instead Lady Olivia falls in love with Cesario as she doesn’t know about her disguise “Poor Lady, she were better love a dream. Disguise, I see thou art a wickedness....” Viola realises that Olivia loves him/her, appearance has triumphed over reality. To complicate things further Sebastian, Viola’s twin brother, arrives in Illyria. First of all Feste delivers a ring to Sebastian from Olivia thinking that it is Cesario. Sebastian gives money and tells him to go away or get a beating. Then Sir Andrew who had a feud with Cesario turns up and punches Sebastian who thinks everyone’s mad. “Are all the people mad?” as one of the characters who doesn’t know that Cesario looks like him, he incredibly confused. He punches back and they draw sword, Feste runs back to tell Olivia that her love is being attacked. Olivia arrives and apologises for Sir Andrew’s behaviour and asks him to marry him as she thinks he is Cesario to which he replies “Madam, I will.” Meanwhile Antonio, the man who saved Sebastian is a wanted man in Illyria is arrested by Duke Orsino’s men. Upon seeing Cesario believing that it is Sebastian he begs him to tell the Duke about how he saved his life, Cesario refuses and Antonio says “Will you deny me now?” saying how he feels betrayed after everything he has done for him. Antonio is taken but this tells Viola that her brother is still alive. In the end all the confusion is over as Sebastian marries Olivia; Viola marries Duke Orsino and Antonio. The only person left unhappy is Molvolio who was tricked by Sir Andrew, Sir Toby and Maria, swears revenge. All ends well as a Shakespearean comedy should.
Language reinforces the visual dramatic irony such as when Duke Orsino is describing Viola, we know that she is a girl and therefore even when disguised her features would resemble women’s features “...and all in semblative a woman’s part.” Also he tells Cesario his “small pipe” is like a girl’s voice and uses a simile to make the comparison. “Is as the maiden’s organ, shrill and sound”. This reinforces the dramatic irony.
Shakespeare used imagery, mainly metaphors to build dramatic irony created from the use of disguise. Viola says that disguise is wicked “Poor lady, she were better love a dream. Disguise I see thou art a wickedness...” This is said in Act 1 Scene 5 when Viola realises that Olivia is in love with her. Her disguise has had a negative effect by making a woman fall in love with a woman. Appearance has triumphed over reality, this backs up the theme of the play which is that nothing is as it seems.
Shakespeare also uses Antithesis in the play. “I am not what I am.” This is used to show that not all is as it seems. This shows the conflict between outward appearance and inward reality. Also antithesis is used to remind the audience that even though there are conflicts it’s a comedy. “.... betrothed both to a maid and man.”
Nothing is as it seems in Twelfth Night. Disguise is rife. When Viola turns up disguised into Orsino’s court he remarks that Ceasrio looks like a woman. In fact she is a woman which is dramatic irony also when Olivia proposes to Sebastian thinking that it is Cesario. This backs up the fact that Illyria is not as it seems.
