First impressions of Twelfth Night can be deceiving as on a simplistic level it can be portrayed as a typical Shakespearean comedy
Jonathan Richards Twelfth Night First impressions of Twelfth Night can be deceiving as on a simplistic level it can be portrayed as a typical Shakespearean comedy. However, Twelfth Night is a mixture of both romantic comedy and tragedy. The romantic comedy elements can be found throughout the play as its structure is based on a typical Elizabethan style, it has escapism with magical settings and happy endings, as is 'Midsummer's Night Dream'. Also Twelfth night has unusual names such as Sir Toby Belch and Sir Andrew Aguecheek, this type of humour is also used in 'Midsummer's Night Dream' in the form of Bottom. This comedy's main theme being one of a love and all the trials and tribulations which can be involved with these strong emotional feelings, it portrays the difficulties which can arise because of the situations people put themselves into willingly or unwillingly as a typical Shakespearean comedy always does. It uses fictional settings, shipwrecks, and weddings with the main characters having to cope with unusual situations. It uses escapism with magical settings and happy endings. There is much to find in the play to makes us smile with lots of songs and happy events as can be found in Act 2 scene3 with Feste the court jester singing. He sings throughout the play about different things Love is one of the themes "What is love? Tis not hereafter; present
Twelfth night - Feste says to Olivia, Maria and Malvolio 'better a witty fool than a foolish wit.' Give your opinion of Feste and Malvolio.
Helen Thompson Feste says to Olivia, Maria and Malvolio 'better a witty fool than a foolish wit.' Give your opinion of Feste and Malvolio. In Shakespeare's play, Twelfth Night, there are many very different characters. Feste and Malvolio are two good examples of characters, very different from each other. One is someone who acts like a puritan and scolds others when they do not act in the same way, whereas the other is someone who gets scolded for being clever with his words and for enjoying singing. This does not mean I would like the play more if one of the two characters were not in the play. Both characters add different things to the play. In the first scene where we see Feste and Malvolio together Feste says 'better a witty fool than a foolish wit.' This comment shows some of Feste's dislike towards Malvolio as it seems to be directed towards the steward, although he does use himself in the comparison, as Feste is obviously the witty fool and Malvolio, the foolish wit (I believe this because the comment seemed to be directed towards Malvolio and this seems to be Feste's opinion of Malvolio). I think that at this point Feste knew, that because Malvolio uses pretences that he is unable hold up, such as being a puritan but being very proud and vain at the same time, he had the possibility of being the target of something that he would not notice or be able to get out of
Malvolio did he deserve the punishment he received in the play Twelfth Night?
Malvolio did he deserve the punishment he received The character Malvolio in the play Twelfth Night is a character who is disliked, and punished for his negative and puritan life style which is supported thought out the play, These eventually lead to his downfall and cruel punishment. Malvolio's first appearance of the play instantly shows his character when he insults Feste "I marvel your ladyship takes delight in such a barren rascal" when he does this he shows himself to be a man who tries to make others look smaller and less of a person than he is, acting on his own personal belief of superiority and this has a major effect on his punishment and cruelty later on in the play. The first impression of Malvolio and what you as a reader think of him do not change as the play progresses but are supported by flaws in Malvolio's character and leads to further hostility towards him. In the play, he shows him self to be a strict puritan, a puritan is a person who believes in a very formal life style with no drinking and no going to theatres etc, this would cause him to be instantly disliked by everyone watching the play due to themselves being theatre goers. The fact he is a puritan is also suggested by Maria "the devil puritan that he is." but while he denies himself a life of pleasure he tries to take these things away from others as well as we saw in act 2 scene 3 when sir
Malvolio Makes a ‘Contemplative Idiot’ Out of Himself in The Box Tree Scene
Malvolio Makes a 'Contemplative Idiot' Out of Himself in The Box Tree Scene Twelfth Night introduces a wide variety of humour portrayed in a number of ways appealing to audiences from Shakespearean times through to contemporary audiences of today. Many of the devices used by Shakespeare are still used in modern comedy programmes, for example drunkenness, used often on television, in 'Men Behaving Badly' and 'Bottom'. Shakespeare is also seen as a starting point for many other genres and structures of comedy, for instance the classic comedy double act. The 'straight', serious partner, and a 'clown', usually undermining the straight man, who feeds the jokes. Morecambe and Wise, and Laurel and Hardy used this pattern. There is also often a lone figure, who entertains the audience in a different way. This role appears in comedy today, such as Jasper Carrot and Mr. Bean, who are often laughed at, but the viewers also find themselves sympathising and pitying the character. Mr. Bean is a solitary figure, and in many episodes is often seen sending himself birthday cards and Christmas presents. This is parallel to the part of Malvolio in Twelfth Night. The practical joke played on him in the 'Box Tree Scene' can be considered unnecessarily cruel and a meaner trick than he may really deserve, making the audience pity him, although they may also laugh at him. It seems simple fun in
"Discuss some of the ways in which Shakespeare entertains his audience in Twelfth Night"
Hannah Greenslade "Discuss some of the ways in which Shakespeare entertains his audience in Twelfth Night" Shakespeare entertains his audience in many different ways, from the complications of the main characters' love to the overtly comic schemes of others. The main method which Shakespeare uses to entertain his audience in this particular play is that of two plots, one main and one a sub-plot, interlocking with each other throughout. One of the main themes throughout Twelfth Night is that of confusion and mistaken identity. This is illustrated mainly by Viola as Cesario, confusing all of the characters into thinking that she is a man. The only people that know of her true identity (apart from the sea captain at the very beginning) are the audience. This makes it more enjoyable and entertaining for the audience as they know exactly what is going on and can see the comedy in the plot as it thickens. It is an example of dramatic irony used by Shakespeare. This links to the sub-plot of the play, that of entertainment and comic characters. This is illustrated to some extent through Sir Toby Belch; a clever character who enjoys playing tricks on people such as Sir Andrew Aguecheek and Malvolio who are less intelligent or more unaware of their humorous characteristics. One of the most entertaining scenes in the play is the one in which Sir Toby and Maria trick Malvolio into
Malvolio’s Treatment in Twelfth Night
Felicia Rubin Malvolio's Treatment in Twelfth Night The character, Malvolio in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night is meant to be a comic one. We find the initial practical joke played on him to be a source of humour. It could be thought that he deserved this prank, but as the minor characters' treatment of him deteriorates, we are forced to re-think our views and consider if their abuse of him was really necessary. Malvolio is described as an almost Jonsonian figure in this otherwise Shakespearean play. His name means "ill wit" which gives the reader a suitable impression of him. He is a Puritan, a most despised figure in Elizabethan times, making his extremist views heard and disapproving of all types of merry making. However Maria, Olivia's waiting gentlewoman, does not view Malvolio as a real Puritan. "The Devil a Puritan that he is, or anything, constantly, but a time-pleaser, an affectioned ass that cons state without book and utters it by great swarths; the best persuaded of himself, so crammed, as he thinks, with excellencies, that it is his grounds of faith that all who look on him love him" The majority of characters see Malvolio as an overweening egotist, a social climber, a hypocrite and an offensive rebuker of others for their slack behaviour. All of these attributes are witnessed throughout Twelfth Night, showing that this offensive characterisation is in fact
Love in Twelfth Night
Twelfth Night The idea of courtly love based in Shakespeare's 'Twelfth night' involved a woman being put on a pedestal and worshipped from a distance like she was goddess who could not be attained. Only by very long devotion and lots of trials could a man get this kind of woman. The woman quite often appeared to be both cruel and fair. Courtly love was a sexless kind of love and was more idealised. Therefore in reality men much like Orsino almost certainly treasured the idea of love more than anyone else. When people did marry in Shakespeare's days it was predominantly for power and money. Love today is a great deal different than courtly love. Men and women are now treated equal and not only do men pursue women but women also pursue men. Today people in love mostly marry each other because of their personality as well as looks and not for money and power. Also love today includes sex unlike courtly love. If a man kept pursuing a woman today to marry him and she continued to refuse the man would most probably give up on her, dissimilar to the courtly lover that would keep on trying. Shakespeare mocks the idea of courtly love in his play in his use of language, the characters and how they go in and out of their roles of courtly love. I aim to look at the plays moral, philosophical and social significance. Also I will analyse Shakespeare's stagecraft and appeal to the
In what ways do you consider Twelfth Night to be more than simply an entertaining comedy?
Shibdeep Kaur Sekhon 17th December 2002 In what ways do you consider Twelfth Night to be more than simply an entertaining comedy? On one level Twelfth Night can be seen as an elegant, charming and perfectly constructed comedy. It moves from a potentially tragic situation of a shipwreck and the loss of "A brother's dead love" into the joyous realm of romantic comedy where three couples happily celebrate marriages. However, the play can also be interpreted as one with troubling undertones, as there is a philosophical aspect, which considers issues such as revenge, importance of love and personal identity. In considering the play on a superficial level it can be said to have all the major conventions of Shakespearean romantic comedy. The main action is about love but Shakespeare explores several types of love in the play. These include: sibling love, unrequited love, love between friends and secret, concealed love. The theme of Orsino's unrequited love for Olivia is introduced at the beginning of the play. "If music be the food of love, play on." Orsino's language in this scene is that of a traditional lover. His use of poetic and elaborative language adds to the presence of romance in the play. The idea of sibling love is presented by Viola and Olivia. Viola fears that Sebastian may have drowned after the shipwreck. However, Viola is optimistic that her
Twelfth Night
David Miller Yr 11 Twelfth Night The final act is a simple scene in this romantic Shakesperian comedy. It brings together all the threads of the storyline the plots, mistakes and confusions. It shows Cesario (Viola) being accused of deception, lies and acts of violence by a number of others including Orsino, Olivia, Sir Andrew Aguecheek and Antonio. The scene is set outside Olivia's house. It begins with Feste (the fool) and Fabian negotiating with each other over Fabian being allowed to see the letter. The arrival of Orsino with his entourage including Cesario (viola). Allows the audience to observe the Duke is expressing his frustration with the lack of progress in his efforts to win over Olivia. He engages Feste and Fabian to bring Olivia to him. Feste gestures and asks Orsino to make it worth his while. (The audience may be encouraged to believe that people are not always helpful but selfish and greedy when Feste wanted a payment for assisting him. Olivia then enters the stage, Orsino turning his attention to her follows her arrival and speaking plainly for the first time, he declares his love for her. Olivia speaks plainly to Orsino rejecting him. They argue. "What to Perverseness? You uncivil woman to whose ingrate and nauspicios alters my soul. The faithfulls't off' rings hath breathed out that e'er devation tennderol". The audience watches as Orsino shows his
Twelfth Night is one of Shakespeare's best-loved and most performed comedies because it is a joyous celebration of romantic love. Do you agree?
Twelfth Night is one of Shakespeare's best-loved and most performed comedies because it is a joyous celebration of romantic love. Do you agree? Twelfth Night, also known as What You Will, is a romantic comedy written by William Shakespeare in the 17th century. The play has become very popular, and is now looked at as one of Shakespeare's greatest works of art. This essay will be discussing the reasons why Twelfth Night is one of Shakespeare's best-loved and most performed comedies. At a glance, the play seems to be just a light-hearted romantic comedy, where the main theme is love, and the other themes throughout the play are heavily involved with love and romance. However, a deeper look into the play reveals a more complex purpose and more intricate themes. The characters in the play all seem to be light-hearted, and all have essential roles to play. They are all cleverly involved in several sub-plots and themes throughout the play, and make everything fit into place. These characters, the themes and the overall interpretation of the play will be examined throughout the course of this essay. It is obvious that the main themes in the play are love, comedy and folly. Love being mocked by the themes of comedy and folly are regular occurrences in Twelfth Night, which makes it easier for the audience not to take the play too seriously. A good example of this mockery is that