What exactly is the purpose of Feste in 'Twelfth Night'?
English Shakespeare Essay What exactly is the purpose of Feste in 'Twelfth Night'? Although the role of Feste 'the clown' originally seems to be quite inconsequential in the play, he actually becomes vital to the play to hold and link it together. I am going to look at all his roles and purposes in the play, using evidence to support my opinions. Feste's original comedy role, although not being his main purpose, is still important in the play. He is the comic truth of the comedy. The irony of the play is, although he is portrayed as a fool, he often seems to be the wisest person in the play as he exposes the true fools. He sees the comedy behind many situations, proving other people to be the true fools, rather than him. Voila even comments on this behaviour: 'This fellow's wise enough to play the fool' (3:1:50) However, not every character in the play sees this. Feste's wisdom is also seen many times around Olivia. At one point Feste asks her what she is mourning about. 'The more fool, Madonna, to mourn for your brother's soul being in heaven' (1:5:58) Therefore, proving Olivia to be a true fool, to mourn a person whose soul is in heaven. This is also the first point we see Feste for more than just a fool, but as a wise man playing a fool and the comic truth. Adding a comedy in another way, Feste dresses up as Sir Topas, the curate, to prove someone else a fool;
Twelfth Night- Act 1
Twelfth Night- Act 1 Viola, the plays protagonist, is a young woman of aristocratic birth. Washed up on the shore of Illyria when her ship is wrecked in a storm, Viola decides to make her own way in the world. She disguises herself as a young man, calling herself "Cesario" and becomes a page to Duke Orsino "Conceal me what I am . . . for such disguise as haply shall become". She ends up falling in love with Orsino even as Olivia, the woman Orsino is courting, falls in love with Cesario. Thus, Viola finds that her clever disguise has entrapped her. She cannot tell Orsino that she loves him, and she cannot tell Olivia why she, as Cesario, cannot love her. "Thou shalt present me as an eunuch to him". Viola represents a contrast to other major characters who are deceived by appearances. Unlike them she is not in the grip of illusion. Her poignant plight is the central conflict in the play. Like most of Shakespeare's heroines, Viola is a tremendously likable figure and we can easily discount the peculiarity of her decision to dress as a man, since it sets the entire plot in motion. She is the character whose love seems the purest. She is not self-seeking but self-sacrificing. She speaks simply and directly about her love in a language that is not affected but sincere. The other characters' passions are fickle. Viola's love for Orsino is constant and deep. Only Viola seems to be
How does Shakespeare explore the theme of love in Twelfth Night(TM)?
How does Shakespeare explore the theme of love in 'Twelfth Night'? Despite the genre of the play, and the supposedly happy ending, Shakespeare is quite ambiguous with his thoughts on the subjects of love and infatuation. Love is generally represented as something that is irresistible, spontaneous and overpowering. It is portrayed as being dangerous and something that can destroy a person, and is very difficult to get rid of. Shakespeare compares it to disease and suffering, and shows that it can cause pain. Orsino describes love dolefully as an 'appetite' that he needs to satisfy, but is unable to and Olivia more bluntly describes it as a 'plague'. Even Viola who is less melodramatic sighs that 'My state is desperate for my master's love'. Because those who suffer from it are consumed by it and become desperate, they resort to violence to secure the love of another. For example, Sir Andrew challenges Viola to fight to the death for Olivia's hand, and Orsino threatens to kill Viola, the subject of Olivia's affections, in order to keep her for himself, 'But this your minion, whom I know you love, And whom, by heaven I swear, I tender dearly, Him will I tear out of that cruel eye, Where he sits crowned in his master's spite.' Although the play is a comedy, it can also be the beginning of a tragedy, as at this point in the play, Viola's love for Orsino almost costs her her life.
Realtionship between Viola and Olivia
William Shakespeare wrote the play 'Twelfth Night' to suit his Elizabethan audience, so that is why perhaps there is a lot of confusion in the play, as the Elizabethans loved puzzles. In this time and age we may find it difficult to believe that a woman could be successfully disguised as a man. However in the time in which the play was written, all of the parts in the plays were acted out by men, as women were not allowed to act on stage until the late 1600's. Therefore all female characters were acted out by young boys. When Viola is ordered by the Duke Orsino, to express his love for Olivia, she feels rather put out and slightly envious at the thought that the person she has to woo, could be the wife of the man she secretly adores with a deep passion: 'Yet a barful strife. Whoe'er I woo, myself would be his wife'. She feels it an inner struggle within herself to put aside her own feelings, so that she can express Orsino's love most convincingly. Before even meeting Cesario, Olivia is intrigued and rather impressed at the description that was given to her: ' Not yet old to be a man, nor young enough for a boy... He is very well favoured...one would think his mother's milk was scarce out of him'. Hearing that he is young, handsome and yet a delicate and determined man, she agrees to see him: 'Let him approach. Call in my gentlewoman' By talking to him, Olivia is rather
With references to four characters of your choice, discuss the various ways the theme of love is portrayed in 'Twelfth Night'.
0a4/CD7/R Nicola Russell 0a4 8/7/03 GCSE English, Reading, Response to Shakespeare. With references to four characters of your choice, discuss the various ways the theme of love is portrayed in 'Twelfth Night'. In this essay I will be discussing the various kinds of love between the characters in 'Twelfth Night'. There are different kinds of love throughout the play: romantic or true love; platonic love; love at first sight; and unrequited love. Twelfth Night is a play about a woman called Viola, who is shipwrecked and parted from her brother Sebastian. Viola disguises herself as a man called 'Cesario' because woman found it hard to get work Love and marriage were different in the Elizabethan era compared to today because people used messengers to woo people. If you were rich you would send one of your servants to woo your lover. The four characters I am going to focus on are Orsino, Olivia, Viola and Sebastian, as they are all in love. Orsino, the duke, is very rich and lovesick. Orsino is the first person to appear in Act 1 Scene 1. The first scene is at Orsino's house. He is mentioned in the play when Viola says he is a nice man, but you find out he is selfish. Orsino is lovesick over Lady Olivia. The love that Orsino has for Olivia is unrequited love. 'If music be the food of love, play on; Give me excess of it.' The duke himself says this, to Curio
Looking at Act 2 scene 5 and Act 3 scene 4 consider the role of Malvolio in Twelfth Night in terms of context, humour and whether or not you he deserves our sympathy
Looking at Act 2 scene 5 and Act 3 scene 4 consider the role of Malvolio in Twelfth Night in terms of context, humour and whether or not you he deserves our sympathy The main storyline in Twelfth Night is love between Cesario, Orsino, Olivia and later on in the play Sebastian. Malvolio's part in the play is a backdrop situation separate from the main story. He brings a level of both humour and sympathy to the play. Malvolio is one of the main sources of humour in Twelfth Night. In the later part of the play a different side of him is exposed. Malvolio is Olivia's steward and his job is to manage Olivia's house; he is her chief servant. It's a very responsible job that he takes very seriously. He enjoys telling people what to do. During the course of the play Malvolio can be seen in many different lights. At the start of the play you have a strong distaste for him because of his constant snooping and him being a killjoy. Later in the play its funny to watch him fall for Maria's trick and make a fool of himself in front of the whole household. However, by the end you want to feel sorry for him as the trick goes too far and give out the impression that he is mad. Malvolio represents the puritan lifestyle. He does not smile or believe in having fun, which is why the trick is played on him in Act 2. This would be very funny to the audience and the characters in the play
Twelfth Night - 'How comedy is created through disguise & deception of others'
'How comedy is created through disguise & deception of others' 'Twelfth Night' is the only one of Shakespeare's plays to have an alternative title: the play is actually called 'Twelfth Night', or 'What You Will'. "Twelfth Night" is usually considered to be a reference to Epiphany, or the twelfth night of the Christmas celebration. In the Elizabethan times this holiday was celebrated as a festival in which everything was turned upside down, much like the chaotic world of Illyria in the play. Disguise is crucial to the plot of the play. It is the thread which runs through the play from start to finish and holds it all together. Yet, paradoxically along the way there are many problems, deceptions and illusions, which creates comedy for the audience. Viola's plan for disguising herself in Act 1 scene II introduces one of the central parts of the play: disguise and the identity confusion related to it. Similarly, Orsino's mournful speech in Act 1, scene I lets us know that the play will also concern matters of love: emotion, desire and rejection. Put together, the two scenes suggest the extra twist that is the highlight of 'Twelfth Night', mistaken gender identity and Viola's gender deception leads to all kinds of romantic complications. Meanwhile, Viola's decision to disguise herself as a young man in order to find a job seems somewhat improbable. Surely this isn't necessary;
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
TWELFTH NIGHT COURSEWORK ACT 5 In the last act of the play the plot entanglements and confusions are not only sorted out
TWELFTH NIGHT COURSEWORK ACT 5 In the last act of the play the plot entanglements and confusions are not only sorted out but also reach their climax. To do this all the plots that have been occurring throughout the play are brought together in one final conclusion. The various plot entanglements are sorted out in what is generally thought to be a happy ending, for instance: - Viola, who is under the mistaken identity of Cesario, finally reveals her true identity because Sebastian has appeared therefore everyone else thinks they are seeing two Cesario's. By Viola doing this, she can finally reveal to Orsino that she loves him. Orsino too realizes his love for Viola and so Orsino and Viola are, at last, joined together. However, because Viola has done this, Olivia now realizes that she has, in fact, married Sebastian rather than Viola or Cesario as she first thought. This, at first causes a problem, but then Olivia and Sebastian realize that they really do love each other. Viola then explains that her women's clothes are with the captain that brought her ashore and helped her after the shipwreck. The captain has been imprisoned by Malvolio though. Olivia decides to get Malvolio to set him free, but she remembers that Malvolio, too, is imprisoned for madness. It is at this point that Feste appears with Malvolio's love letter to Olivia. Feste then proceeds to read it
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 is popular due to being a joyous celebration of romantic love. A lot of people would agree with this statement but many would also not agree. In this essay I will be summing up both points of view and ending with a balanced summary and decision. The title of the play is 'Twelfth Night.' This is to do with being the twelfth night of Christmas on which (at the time of the plays production) wealthy households used to have a custom of allowing the jester to run the household. This would mean turning their lives upside-down for a day. The theme of their lives being turned upside-down is one that re-occurs throughout the play. With everyone's lives being turned upside-down everything is a comic mess which makes Twelfth Night funny and comical. The restoration of harmony is when Viola reveals her identity. In this final scene everyone and everything returns to normality. For some people the restoration of harmony is a bad thing and their lives turn back to normality for the worse, but for most it means marriage and happiness with their loving partner. Throughout the play there are many themes, which appear more than once and for different people in different situations. The main and most important theme in Twelfth Night is