Twelfth Night
The Twelfth Night, written by the famous playwright William Shakespeare, encases many unique themes that are used by many present playwrights. Although this play is not one of his most famous plays, it is considered to be a breakthrough for all playwrights. Shakespeare combined themes of love, comedy, and deception when he transformed this play. The Twelfth Night is a story about a tangled love triangle, revengeful deception, and indulgence. Throughout research, it is evident that many critics don't agree on the chief idea of the play. "The chief idea of Twelfth Night has been variously identified. Some have argued that the leading note of the play is fun; others have held that the play's "lesson is...'Sweet are the uses of adversity.' Unrequited love is another choice. Still another is social security. According to this view Twelfth Night is not a story of love but of the very realistic struggles and intrigues over the betrothal of a rich countess, whose selection of !a mate determines the future of all the major and most if the minor characters" (Preston, 275). Basically, the critics I have researched have agreed on the play's themes, however they have disputed which theme solidifies itself as the main theme.
In Twelfth Night, another common theme is love. In this case it is a crazed and tangled love triangle between Olivia, Orsino, and Viola. All having opposite feelings for another, the lovers provide another sort of comic relief. Shakespeare's plays often contain this theme of tangled and misunderstood love. Other plays such as Midsummer Nights Dream and Romeo and Juliet contain strong love themes. Shakespeare designs the type of love in each play with a touch of wit. "The two attitudes toward love are here bound together more significantly than in earlier comedies. Orsino is the romantic lover who vaunts his alleged passion in hyperboles. And Olivia is the reluctant lover who rejects the Duke's addresses to her. But she is very different form such disdainful lovers as Phoebe of As You Like It, and Bene*censored* and Beatrice"(Illustrated London News, 276). Their love is different yet so alike. They are both very sentimental, which shows as a folly. Love could be one! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ t Orsino of Illyria laments that he is lovesick, and tries desperately to court Olivia. She has declined his attempts by saying she rather morn the death of her brother. Viola, after surviving a terrible shipwreck has come to Illyria. Viola is now convinced that she may have lost her brother in the shipwreck. Viola meets with Olivia and they sympathize with each other because they had just suffered losses of their loved ones. Olivia convinces Viola into becoming a servant for Orsino, because he is a good, just man. Viola has now disguised herself as a boy named Cesario, and has been taken into the service of Count Orsino. Orsino and Viola have grown close in their short time together. At this point, true feelings between Orsino and Viola are hidden. Orsino asks Viola to try and court Olivia for him once again. She obeys, but she half-heartedly does so because she rather be with Orsino, than watch Olivia marry Orsino. When Viola arrives to Olivia's, she is distr! Throughout the play, Shakespeare uses his infamous themes of love, deception, and indulgence. Another theme that Shakespeare seems to use often is comedy by use of a fool. Throughout some of his finest works he uses a fool to provide comic relief. In this play he uses Malvolio, in others it has been Polonius, Mercutio, and Bottom. In the play, Malvolio orders a clown to entertain him. Throughout the clown's performance, Malvolio interrupts by calling the clown a fool. "His persistent calling of 'Fool' points ironically to the very term most properly applying to himself in
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1764
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)
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