Dramatic Comedy Essay 1
A concern with the difference between appearance and reality runs all through Twelfth Night. Discuss this statement with particular consideration to Viola’s disguise and Malvolio’s delusion.
In William Shakespeare’s comedic play Twelfth Night, there is much emphasis on confusion concerning distinctions between reality and appearance, most notably concerning the characters Viola and Malvolio, the former causing confusion through disguise and the latter through delusion. This theme is linked with confusion amongst the play’s characters, a common theme in Shakespeare’s comedies, as well as other dramatic comedies. Shakespeare dealt with cross-dressing in other comedies including As You Like It and The Merchant of Venice. In addition, as many critics have noted, Shakespeare has explored other comic features of Twelfth Night in other comedies, such as twins (as in A Comedy of Errors), separation and re-unification (as in The Tempest) and struggles of young lovers (as in Measure for Measure).
Firstly, Viola-the play’s main protagonist- dresses up as a man in order to serve Orsino the Duke of Illyria, where her ship has been wrecked. She adopts the name Cesario and successfully convinces others that she is male, though whether this is due more to Viola’s acting skills or to the ignorance of those who interact with her is debatable. This is an example of subverting contemporary social norms, as- in Shakespeare’s lifetime- women were seen as inferior to men and not allowed to have the same interactions as their male counterparts. However, as Viola’s disguise has convinced the other characters that she is male, she has choices available to her which are not available to other women. Such subversion of social norms is a recurring theme in Shakespeare’s dramatic comedy (such as in As You Like It). Also, this is a source of humour, as the audience is of course aware that Viola is in fact a woman, whereas the other characters are completely oblivious to this fact. In Act 1,
In William Shakespeare’s comedic play Twelfth Night, there is much emphasis on confusion concerning distinctions between reality and appearance, most notably concerning the characters Viola and Malvolio, the former causing confusion through disguise and the latter through delusion. This theme is linked with confusion amongst the play’s characters, a common theme in Shakespeare’s comedies, as well as other dramatic comedies. Shakespeare dealt with cross-dressing in other comedies including As You Like It and The Merchant of Venice. In addition, as many critics have noted, Shakespeare has explored other comic features of Twelfth Night in other comedies, such as twins (as in A Comedy of Errors), separation and re-unification (as in The Tempest) and struggles of young lovers (as in Measure for Measure).
Firstly, Viola-the play’s main protagonist- dresses up as a man in order to serve Orsino the Duke of Illyria, where her ship has been wrecked. She adopts the name Cesario and successfully convinces others that she is male, though whether this is due more to Viola’s acting skills or to the ignorance of those who interact with her is debatable. This is an example of subverting contemporary social norms, as- in Shakespeare’s lifetime- women were seen as inferior to men and not allowed to have the same interactions as their male counterparts. However, as Viola’s disguise has convinced the other characters that she is male, she has choices available to her which are not available to other women. Such subversion of social norms is a recurring theme in Shakespeare’s dramatic comedy (such as in As You Like It). Also, this is a source of humour, as the audience is of course aware that Viola is in fact a woman, whereas the other characters are completely oblivious to this fact. In Act 1,