Twelfth+Night

= Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare =

Biography

William Shakespeare was a man of his time. His many works of literature that are still alive today make him one of the greatest playwrights of all time. Shakespeare's birth has always been a mystery. He was born in Stratford, but there are two different dates that are associated with his birth: one is the date of his baptisim, April 26, 1564, and the other is the claimed birthday of Guilielmus filius Johannes Shakespeare, April 23, 1564 (Mabillard). Shakespeare was born into the family of John and Mary Shakespeare. Neither John nor Mary could write, yet they were a wealthy family. John Shakespeare was elected to many civil positions by the city and was the owner of 3 houses and a 60-acre farm. Abruptly, the family started falling behind in taxes and ended up scraping by with the little money they now had left. Shakespeare was enrolled at the Stratford grammar school at a young age. He stayed there for a while to learn his basic reading and writing skills. In the 1580's, Shakespeare went on to become an actor. During two great periods of his life, there is nothing documented about what Shakespeare did. Historians call these the "lost years" (Mabillard)The first period of time was after Shakespeare left grammar school. From 1578 there was no documentation until the marriage of Shakespeare to Anne Hathaway in 1582. The second period was 1585-1592, when historians believe Shakespeare was away perfecting his acting skills (Merriman). Shakespeare is not most famous for his acting, though. His name is most credited to his 37 plays and 154 sonnets. Shakespeare recieved much praise for the language used in his poetry and plays (AbsoluteShakespeare). Much of our language today was influenced or directly created by what Shakespeare wrote. He has become on eof the most studied playwrights through his achievements. Ben Jonson says, "[Shakespeare] was not of an age, but for all time!" Shakespeare has withstood the test of time because he creates eloquent passages about human emotions. He is the only Western author to create these such passages. Shakespeare also has stories that can relate to any time, they can be translated into modern language and settings. Shakespeare's stories also span over a range of genres; he was a versatile author that could write dramas, comedies, and adventures. Shakespeare also had "compelling characters" because they are relatable to regular people. His characters have remained part of today's literature because of their complexity (Mabillard). Some of Shakespeare's most famous plays include //Romeo and Juliet, Twelfth Night, Much Ado About Nothing,// and //Macbeth.// Many of his plays have been turned into movies, including all listed above. Shakespeare truly was a writer that has made his mark in American and English literature and deserves to be remembered.

Plot Synopsis

//Twelfth Night// takes place in the sea port of Illyria. In the first scene, we are informed that Duke Orsino of Illyria is in love with Olivia, and he will do anything to get her. The play starts as a ship is washed up onto shore. We are introduced to Viola, the main characters, and learn that she had a brother, Sebastian, that did not survive the shipwreck. Viola quickly decides to dress up as a man so she can find work from the Duke. The Duke hires her as a page to persuade Olivia to love him. We are then introduced to Sir Toby, Maria, and Sir Andrew Aguecheek. Sir Toby is an avid drinker, and Olivia's uncle. Maria, Olivia's maid, tries to calm Toby down while saying Olivia is annoyed at his behavior. Sir Toby persuades Sir Andrew into courting Olivia so they can both get richer. Viola has now transformed herself into a man named Cesario and gained great trust from the Duke. She is ordered to go plead Olivia to love the Duke but finds herself deeply falling for the Duke. We are then introduced to Olivia's clown and steward, Feste and Malvolio, respectively. Through Malvolio's rejection to Feste, we learn that he is very uptight. Viola (Cesario) comes to plead Olivia to love the Duke but she cannot return the favor because Olivia is falling in love with Cesario (Viola). Olivia orders Malvolio to send a ring to Viola, thus ending Act I. Act II starts with Sebastian and Antonio on stage. We then learn that Sebastian, Viola's brother, has not died. Antonio, the man responsible for saving Sebastian's life, and Sebastian head to Duke Orsino's court. Malvolio comes to present Cesario with the ring from Olivia, but Cesario is confused because he left no such ring. He (Viola) then realizes that the ring is an expression of Olivia's love for him and claims that chasing a dream is better than chasing him (her). Malvolio comes across Toby, Maria, Andrew, and Feste drunkenly playing around and threatens to tell Olivia they were all bad on Maria's behalf. This angers Maria and leads her to write a letter to Malvolio falsely claiming Olivia's love for him. Orsino realizes that Viola is in love but does not know who with, so he sends her back to Olivia's with an even bigger token of love. Malvolio finds the fake letter from Maria and is happy at his owners love towards him. Little does he know, what he is doing to "impress" her will really disgust her, thus ending Act II. Cesario is ordered to go back and have a private meeting with Olivia where Olivia is just head over heels in love with Cesario (Viola). Sir Andrew is now angered that he can't love Olivia so Sir Toby and Fabian order him to write a duel to Cesario. Sebastian and Antonio are now partners and plan to meet at a hotel in Illyria, but Antonio gives Sebastian his coin purse first. Olivia spots Malvolio trying to impress her but declares him mad in her search for Cesario. Malvolio refersto the famous "Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon em" speech that was used in his letter. Toby, Maria and Fabian decide to have Malvolio put away and make fun of him. Andrew's duel has reluctantly been accepted by Cesario, through the persuasion of Toby and Fabian: they fight. Antonio then rushes in to Cesario, confusing him (Viola) for Sebastian, and asks for his coin purse back. When declined, Antonio thinks Sebastian has betrayed him, ending Act III. Feste is confused when he comes upon Sebastian talking about Cesario's doings to him. Andrew is also confused when he comes across Sebastian and starts fighting him again, thinking he is cesario with whom he has an unfinished duel. Olivia comes in and stops the fight. Then, mistaking Sebastian for Cesario, she and him run off to get married. All the while, Malvolio is shut in a dark room being mercilessly teased by Feste. Toby comes in and, being ashamed, lets Malvolio write a letter to Olivia, ending Act IV. In Act V, there is much confusion about who is Sebastian and Cesario, and anger results from this. Feste blames Sebastian for not recognizing him. Antonio gets arrested for mistaking Cesario for Sebastian and trying to take his coin purse back. Olivia arrives and reveals her marriage to who she thought was Cesario, who pleads guilty to Orsino for gettting Olivia's love. Sebastian arrives and apologizes to all about hurting Toby and Andrew in that duel. What happens from this realization? Check out //Twelfth Night// to see how the play ends!

Clarification help was provided by: absoluteshakespeare.com

Literary Information

//Twelfth Night// is one of Shakespeare's comedies, more specifically an Elizabethan comedy. //Twelfth Night// has five Acts, as was popular during Shakespeare's time, and 92 pages long. It is classified as a novel but really is a play. //Twelfth Night// is written in omniscient third person. It is omniscient third person because the narrator always knows what is going on. The narrator also focuses on a great array of characters, not just a couple. Each of the characters gets focused on by the narrator in //Twelfth Night//. Shakespeare uses mostly indirect characterization in the play. Most of his characterization is through other characters either describing a character or talking about a character. The setting of //Twelfth Night// is a town named Illyria on the coast of an unnamed sea. The mood depends on which scene is taking place and who is in the scene. Whenever Feste, Sir Toby, Maria, or Sir Andrew are in the scene, there is a lighthearted and funny mood. Whenever the Duke, Viola (Cesario), Olivia, or Malvolio are in the scene, there is a more lovely or emotional mood. Malvolio also brings in an air of seriousness and tightness to whatever secne he is in because his personality is more strict and uptight. Shakespeare also creates imagery by having his characters describe places and what they look and feel like. Shakespeare uses both formal diction and informal diction. Whenever he is talking about love, Shakespeare uses formal diction, but when the characters that are less educated talk, Shakespeare uses informal diction. Shakespeare also uses complex sentences in his writing. When he uses formal diction it makes sense to use complex sentences but also when Shakespeare does not use formal diction, he still mostly uses complex sentences. All of Shakespeare's writing has an evident tone and style, and //Twelfth Night// is no exception. I feel that Shakespeare almost has a royal style whenever he writes, it makes you stop and pay attention to whatever he is saying. Shakespeare's tone is also comforting and inviting. He transfers his tone into the characters and then makes the reader want to know the characters in each of his plays. //Twelfth Night// is also the inspiration for many other plays and movies, including "She's the Man."

This is a clip from the newer version of //Twelfth Night//:

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Literary Analysis

William Shakespeare consciously created symbolism through the naming of many of his characters. Specifically Viola, Olivia, and Malvolio have a symbolic relationship through their names. Viola and Olivia are almost synonyms of each other; through the spelling and letters of their names to their situations at the beginning of the play. The first time we are introduced to Viola, we learn that her father is gone and her brother has just died in a shipwreck at sea. The first time we are introduced to Olivia, we learn that her father is gone, too and she is greiving over her brother's recent death. Later on in the play, we learn that Viola is in love with someone that she cannot have. She loves Duke Orsino, but the Duke refuses to love anyone other than Olivia. Also later on we see that Olivia loves someone that she cannot have; she loves Viola disguised as Cesario. Obviously, Olivia is unable to obtain Viola (Cesario) because Cesario really is a woman. Malvolio's name also includes the same letters as Olivia's and Viola's name, with the execption of an "m." Malvolio's name has a significance of it's own. In Italian, //mal// means bad, so even though Malvolio's name is similar to Olivia's and Viola's, it incurs a negative connotation. While Olivia and Viola are similar in their name and situation, Malvolio has a similar name with an opposite meaning. Shakespeare created symbolism in //Twelfth Night// by consciously naming many of his characters correspondingly.

Shakespeare also created a certain theme in this piece of work. //Twelfth Night// by William Shakespeare reveals that infatuation leads people to make foolish decisions. One prime example of this is when Malvolio falls madly in love with Olivia. When Malvolio finds the letter for him that was supposedly written by Olivia, he realizes his deep infatuation with her. "I do not now fool myself, to let imagination jade me, for every reason excites to this, that my lady loves me" (44). Malvolio's character is a very strict, uptight gentleman that does not condone silly behavior. He always acts very stiffly, rarely smiles, and dresses neatly, only wearing the proper servingman garb. The letter from Olivia, his so-called lover, states that she would love him even more if he wore yellow stockings, cross-garters, and if he smiled, for it becomes him well. "Remember who commended thy yellow stockings and wished to see thee ever cross-gartered....If thou entertain'st my love, let it appear in thy smiling. Thy smiles become thee well" (43-44). Malvolio, being deeply in love with Olivia, follows her requests and shows up in the next scene wearing outlandish yellow stockings, cross-garters, and a hideous smile on his face. The act that Malvolio puts on to please Olivia is so out of his normal behavior, which enhances the theme that infatuation leads people to make foolish decisions. Another example of infatuation leading people to make foolish decisions happens when Sir Andrew challenges Viola (Cesario) for a deul, thinking that it will impress Olivia, whom he loves. Andrew is not a violent man, and when put in a violent situation, he crumbles under the pressure. Sir Toby and Fabian know Andrew is in love with Olivia, but when Andrew sees Olivia falling in love with Cesario (Viola), Toby and Fabian persuade Andrew into challenging Cesario (Viola) in a deul over Olivia's love. "Challenge me the count's youth to fight with him; hurt him in eleven places. My niece shall take note of i, and assure thyself there is no love-broker in the world can more prevail in man's commendation with woman than report of valor" (52). Andrew is skeptical about deuling Cesario (Viola) because he does not want to fight and he also does not know if Olivia will truly look well upon him if he wins the deul. "Will either of you bear me a challenge to him?" (53). Sir Andrew would not normally deul anyone, but since he is madly infatuated with Olivia, he makes a foolish decision to deul Cesario (Viola). This strengthens the theme in //Twelfth Night// that infatuation leads people to make foolish decisions.

Criticism

​ I quite enjoyed //Twelfth Night//. I thought that it was an interesting play that had a lot going on, but not too much going on that I could not keep track of what is happening. Shakespeare created many different layers and storylines to the play, which made things interesting. There was the story of Antonio and Sebastian, the story of Toby, Maria, Fabian, Andrew, Malvolio, and Feste, and there was the story of Duke Orsino, Viola (Cesario), and Olivia. I commend Shakespeare for making it easy for the reader to follow along in the play and know what story was going on. I also commend him on how he was able to bring all of the stories together into one that made sense at the end. I also appreciate that he made clear whether Viola was Viola or Cesario. That was something I was worried about at the beginning of the play, if I would be able to understand if it was Viola or Cesario, but Shakespeare made that clear. At some points in the play, I felt that Shakespeare was making characters talk just for the sake of talking or to show off some more of his ability to write and manipulate language. For example, knowing the characters, I would not have expected Viola and Feste to have a word battle, especially Feste. Yet Shakespeare had the two have a word battle that lasted for about 35 lines. Since //Twelfth Night// is five acts, it is already quite long, so I feel that a word battle between a clown and a page for 35 lines is not quite necessary in a five act play. Though sometimes I felt that word battles were unnecessary, //Twelfth Night// is no exception of Shakespeare being a master of language. There were some parts of the play where I had to stop and reread a line once or twice because the language was so beautiful. One example of this was a line that I have heard before: "Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon 'em" (43). What I also liked about this Shakespeare play in particular, is that it showed audiences that do not appreciate Shakespeare because he is boring, that Shakespeare can be funny and humorous, too. With all of these reasons taken into consideration, I give //Twelfth Night// by William Shakespeare 8.5 stars out of 10.

Interested in more of Shakespeare's plays, poems, or sonnets? Check out this list: Complete Works of Shakespeare

Want to know more about Shakespeare? Check out these sites: The Literature Network - William Shakespeare Absolute Shakespeare - Shakespeare Biography Shakespeare Online - Shakespeare of Stratford

If you are interested in the plot in //Twelfth Night//, some other Shakespeare plays you might like are:

If you are interested in **the** **language** in //Twelfth Night//, check out these wiki pages: Jane Eyre @Little Women Pride and Prejudice @The Scarlet Letter

Cites: (If used in text, citation is in parentheses) //Twelfth Night// by William Shakespeare, edited by Jonathan Crewe. The Pelican Shakespeare. Published by Penguin Books Inc., 1958, 1972, 2000 Youtube trailer: @http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8DGoF0CQlU List of Shakespeare's complete works: @http://www.opensourceshakespeare.org/views/plays/plays.php Link to //A Midsummer Night's// //Dream//: @http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/msnd Link to //Romeo and Juliet//: @http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/romeojuliet Link to //Much Ado About Nothing//: @http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/muchado/