Discuss the use of disguise and deception in Twelfth Night and its contribution to the play.
Discuss the use of disguise and deception in Twelfth Night and its contribution to the play. Deception and disguise are two key themes in Shakespeare's 'Twelfth Night'. They appear in many different ways throughout the duration of the plot. Some disguises are deceptive and some deceptions are disguised. This essay will explore disguise and deception in the characters and situations in 'Twelfth Night' and discuss their symbolism in relation to the play as a whole. One of the most overt examples of disguise is through the character of Viola. Stranded in Illyria after a shipwreck, she dresses as a male in order to work as a Eunuch for the Duke Orsino 'Thou shall present me as an eunuch to him' (Line 58, Act one, scene two). Through her disguise, Viola manages to deceive Lady Olivia, who falls deeply in love with 'Cesario' 'Cesario...I love thee so that maugre all thy pride' (Act three, scene one). Olivia tries to disguise her feelings but the repressed passion is revealed 'I wish you were as I would have you be' (Act three, scene one). Having given herself to mourning, there is a sense of desperation here. Viola finds it very difficult to disguise her love for Orsino 'never told her love, but let concealment, like a worm i'the bud, feed on her damask' (Act two, scene four). Shakespeare challenges gender roles and the conventions of romance in his use of disguise. Seeing
"Twelfth night" Lokking at Act 1 Scene 5.
"Twelfth night" Act 1 Scene 5 In act 1 scene 5 we first learn about Viola's behaviour from Sir.Toby. He enters the room "half drunk" after delaying Viola. He then proceeds to tell Olivia that he thinks Viola is a lecher, "I defy lechery. There's one at the gate". Viola doesn't pay much attention to this description as she thinks that her cousin is too drunk to know what he saying. Malvolio enters the room next after Olivia had sent him to the gate to try and get rid of Viola. He returns saying that Viola will "stand at your door likes a sheriff's post... but he'll speak with you . Malvolio gives a damning report saying that viola is "as a squash 'tis before a peascod, or a codling when 'tis almost an apple... One would think his mother's milk were scarce out of him." When Olivia decides to meet Viola Malvolio doesn't question her decision although he disagrees with it. When Viola first speaks to Olivia she asks "The honurable lady of the house, which is she?". Olivia seems to be insulted by this as she then refuses to confirm that she is the lady. She then complains about him "being saucy at my gate." Olivia refuses to listen to the praise which Viola starts to recite from her speech. She says "Come to what is important in't. I forgive you the praise.". This shows that Olivia is not intrested with what Viola has to say as she wishes to hurry her up. Once Maria and the
How does Shakespeare manipulate the audience to dislike Malvolio towards the beginning of the play yet possibly sympathise with him by the end?
How does Shakespeare manipulate the audience to dislike Malvolio towards the beginning of the play yet possibly sympathise with him by the end? Shakespeare manipulates the audience using a variety of different techniques and tries to make the audience feel certain emotions towards characters. The play Twelfth Night is centred on love, being someone you are not and social class. The play itself is set in the land of Illyria and has two grand households; the heads of which are Olivia and Orsino. Malvolio is the steward of Olivia and highly ranked amongst the servants. He is a Puritan and is deeply religious; this fact is played upon repeatedly as they play goes on. Malvolio is a character that would be more reacted to and more relevant at the time this play was shown for the first time to an Elizabethan audience, and Malvolio may bring across different emotions in a modern audience. The first time Shakespeare introduces us to Malvolio is in Act 1 Scene 5 and he talks to Feste when he remarks, "... such a barren rascal. I saw him put down the other day with an ordinary fool that has no more brain than a stone...Unless you laugh and minister occasion to him, he is gagged." He belittles Feste and this does not help Feste as he was already in an unfavourable position with Olivia for not being around for a long time. The word barren would be interpreted by modern audiences
Mistaken Identity in Twelfth Night.
Anna Mason 9S Mistaken Identity in Twelfth Night Throughout "Twelfth Night" there is much foolery, fantasy and mistaken identity. These incidents have made the play more fun, interesting and surprising and have certainly given the play a few twists. Olivia and Viola-Cesario (I, v) The first and most important case of mistaken identity in my opinion, began in Act 1, scene 5, in Olivia's household. Viola-Cesario was sent by Orsino to try and "woo" Olivia for him but Viola, in love with Orsino herself, knew that she would not want to do this: "I'll do my best to woo your lady. [Aside] Yet a barful strife! Whoe'er I woo, myself would be his wife." (I, iv, l. 39-41). The two got on well although there was much verbal fencing, but by the time Viola-Cesario had left, Olivia feared she had fallen in love with "him". We learn this from Olivia's words after Viola-Cesario's departure: "Even so quickly may one catch the plague? Methinks I feel this youth's perfections With an invisible and subtle stealth To creep in mine eyes. Well, let it be." (I, v, l. 250-3) So, complications were forming already in just the first act: Olivia had fallen in love with the disguised woman, viola; Viola was in love with Orsino, who believed her to be a man; and Orsino was in love with Olivia, who despised him. A love triangle full of complications, lies and mistaken identity had formed.
By referring to two or three scenes in the play, write about how Shakespeare creates dramatic intrigue in Twelfth night, through plot, character and language.
By referring to two or three scenes in the play, write about how Shakespeare creates dramatic intrigue in Twelfth night, through plot, character and language. Twelfth Night is one of Shakespeare's comedies; its title originates back to the Elizabethan period when the play was traditionally performed on the twelfth night after Christmas. However, it is alternatively referred to as 'What you will' which I think suggests that you can interpret this play in whichever form you wish and that it is not particularly serious. It also makes it unique among Shakespeare's works In having a double title, this might also introduce the theme of doubling or duplication from the outset- a theme that has other expressions in the two households of Orsino and Olivia, the motif of twins, which most people are intrigued by and the relationship between the almost enigmatical Olivia and Viola who both mourn a dead brother and friend. The play itself is set in the mythical place of Ilyria, taking place in only a few areas such as Olivia's house. It consists of a main plot, which is a twisted love triangle involving the Duke of Orsino, Olivia, Viola, and later her twin brother Sebastian. Different types of love are presented in Twelfth night among these characters, similarly to common Shakespeare comedies In order for Shakespeare to create real dramatic intrigue, he uses subplots that are
Explore how Shakespeare shapes the audience's perceptions of Malvolio in Twelfth Night
GCSE English/English Literature Coursework: Twelfth Night Throughout Twelfth Night, there are many instances in which the audience feels it is licensed to laugh at certain characters because of their mishaps and embarrassing situations. One of these characters is the Lady Olivia's steward, Malvolio, a pompous and puritanical figure who is the most unlucky of all the characters, as nobody seems to like him. His character reveals lots of human weaknesses when exposed to humiliating situations, and so the audience cannot help but find his misfortune humourous. In this essay I am going to look in depth at the key scenes that shape the audience's perceptions of Malvolio. The three main aspects of Malvolio that provide talking points are: his religious beliefs (he is a Puritan), his social status (he looks down on others whom he thinks lower than him) and his personality (he is vain and egoistic). Each of these characteristics mean that Malvolio an obvious target for humour, as many of the characters take advantage of him throughout the play. Our initial impressions are supported by Malvolio's general character. He shows himself to be a strict puritan and this is also suggested by the opinion of Maria "Sometimes he is a kind of puritan". He denies himself indulgences and pleasure whilst at the same time begrudging these things of others. He makes a point of taking the moral high
How Successful Is Shakespeare In Making The Opening Of Twelfth Night Interesting And Entertaining For The Audience?
How Successful Is Shakespeare In Making The Opening Of Twelfth Night Interesting And Entertaining For The Audience? Shakespeare uses various devices and character portrayals to successfully make the opening of Twelfth Night entertaining and interesting for the audience. In this essay I am going to analyse Twelfth Night and find out how Shakespeare achieves this. Shakespeare starts the play with a speech from Orsino. This speech is very important and interesting for many reasons. Firstly, it introduces the Duke. The audience would get the impression that he was a wealthy man from many clues, such as his language. He would use longer, and more complicated words, occasionally speak in poetry, rhyme and uses metaphors. Evidence of this are words such as 'fantastical', 'sweet sound', and a example of rhyme is 'Enough, no more; 'Tis not so sweet now as it was before.' This would show the audience that he was, one of the main characters, wealthy, and educated. Another suggestion that the Duke is wealthy is that Curio suggests that they go hunting, to try and take the Duke's mind of Olivia, hunting was only available to rich people, because to hunt you needed to own your own land to hunt on. (Lower characters, such as servants etc used prose in their speech). The Duke would appeal to other wealthy people in the audience, making them interested in his character. Props on
The Theme of Love in Twelfth Night
The Theme of Love in Twelfth Night In Twelfth Night, Shakespeare focuses strongly on the theme of love; romantic love, friendship, brotherly and sisterly love, unrealistic love and self-love. In this essay I am going to explore these aspects and write about the different sides of love in the play, such as humour and suffering. We find that in Twelfth Night love is a very complicated thing and confusion often occurs. At the beginning of the play we find Orsino talking dramatically of his love for Olivia but actually seems to be in love with the idea of love itself. This shows that his feelings are not actually true and that he is very self-indulgent. He uses exaggerated language whilst lying in rose beds, listening to music and talking constantly to his servants of Olivia's beauty. He also compares his love to food and in this quote he is saying how he hopes his appetite will simmer when it all gets too much and he can no longer handle it. Orsino says, 'If music be the food of love, play on; give me excess of it, that surfeiting, the appetite may sicken and so die.' (I.i.1-3). Orsino seems to be rather in love with himself and assumes that Olivia will return his feelings for her. He says 'Her sweet perfections with one selfsame King!' (I.i.39). Here he compares himself to a King, which shows his self-love and arrogance. Viola's love is an example of true love in the
What impressions have you formed of Olivia? Show some of the ways in which she differs from either Viola or Maria.
What impressions have you formed of Olivia? Show some of the ways in which she differs from either Viola or Maria. I have formed quite favourable impressions of Olivia. As the Captain says, she is "a virtuous maid, the daughter of a count". I believe she is of fairly sound judgement and quite shrewd. She is also a countess and of high status, which is the direct opposite of her loyal servant, Maria. Olivia does not actually appear in the play until quite late on, yet we learn a lot about her before then. Her brother and father have recently died, and out of respect for them, she vows that she will have no male visitors for seven years. At first, this seems almost commendable, but as the play goes on and she falls hopelessly in love with Cesario, we realise that it is immature, naïve and somewhat unrealistic. She is probably in her early twenties, and Duke Orsino, along with many other people, believes her to be very beautiful, as we know when he says, "O when mine eyes did see Olivia first, methought she purged the air of pestilence." He thinks she is so beautiful that she clears the air of disease. It is hard to believe that she could resist male visitors for very long when she has money, youth and beauty as her assets. However, this melodramatic pose she adopts could also be a way of singling herself out and making herself more interesting. It is certainly
Choose 2 scenes in Twelfth Night and state how you would direct them
Choose 2 scenes in Twelfth Night and state how you would direct them. Discuss some of the challenges you might face in directing the play to a modern audience. Being one of Shakespeare's best romantic comedies, Twelfth Night has been re-enacted many a times, be it during Elizabethan times, or in modern times. Although set in the Elizabethan era, Twelfth Night has its charms. And indeed, it proves to be relevant and intimate to a modern audience, with its applicable themes and endearing characters. In directing a play of such mannerism, one would have to consider many factors affecting the overall effect of the play, and how it brings forth its true message and intentions. Hence, I have chosen to direct Act 3 Scene 1, as well as Act 2 Scene 3. The reasons why I have chosen the above scenes, is so as in Act 2 Scene 3, Sir Toby, Sir Andrew, Maria and Feste portray a kind of platonic love, that can be applied to a modern audience. In addition, Malvolio is shown forth as the typical puritan, who is the wet blanket for every party and discourages any kind of fun and disorder. This, hence, is also applicable to a modern audience, as the audience see Malvolio as the kind of person everyone would dislike. Thus, later on, when Malvolio is plotted against, the audience can comprehend why. This scene is seen to be a comical one, where humour is the main theme. Henceforth,