You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
-
The Shakespearean comedy, Much Ado about Nothing encompasses themes such as the importance of honour, the ideal of social grace, nevertheless uses a plot which primarily revolves around the theme of deception re occurring in various forms. On one hand deception is used throughout Much Ado About Nothing in a malicious manner, however on the on the hand it can be portrayed in a benevolent and beneficial manner such as the fooling of Beatrice and Benedick and deceiving them into proclaiming their love for each other. The use of both forms of deception often makes it difficult to distinguish between the two, such as when Claudio announces his desire to woo Hero, however Don Pedro takes it upon himself to woo her for Claudio. However Shakespeare’s use of deception is neither completely a means of malice nor a mean of showing traits of kindness between characters, the use of deception aids the development of the plot and creates a path for other elements necessary in the play such as its comical elements.…
- 1460 Words
- 6 Pages
Powerful Essays -
The relationship between Beatrice and Benedick exposes the truth in a manner that removes the significance of the lies. Whereas Claudio and Hero’s connection still relies on the treacheries as a crucial property to flourish. These juxtaposing relationships illustrate how varied human relations can be when fabrications are at the center. As the play matures the relationships developed at different degrees into opposing situations: one growing stronger while the other was weakened due to the deceptions. In these final lines, Shakespeare is exposing how circumstances can contrast even amongst comparable conditions. While lying ultimately unites one, it almost destroys the other couple. Trickery is depicted as neither wrong nor right through the scope of these…
- 1092 Words
- 5 Pages
Good Essays -
For hundreds of years people from all over the world have seen the works of William Shakespeare performed by thousands of actors. Twelfth Night or What you Will is but one of the many comedies written by William Shakespeare that have been produced in many formats, from theater, television and even several feature films. So many different productions of the same works have opened the door to directors adding their own twist to the original script to make it their own. One play can be performed countless different ways, from very conservative or to unconventional depending on the director’s interpretation and intentions. So all writings are open for creative interpretation thus being for this paper I am going to focus on the directorial staging of this play and how the staging and direction brought the focus of the subplot of Antonio and Sebastian into a homoerotic relationship opposed to other renditions of Twelfth Night that were homosocial. Directors have creatively reconstructed these plays pulling from the era, the popular ideology of the community and political correctness at the times the different styles and interpretations so that Shakespeare can be adapted to the current times.…
- 2073 Words
- 9 Pages
Better Essays -
In Shakespeare's uniquely constructed comedy, Twelfth Night, there are several paradoxes within the characters. Misinterpretations as well as false presentation of reality are both common occurrences within the characters. Nearly the entire cast of characters use or fall victim to some form of deceit. Both Andrew and Viola present themselves as people they are not, and Orsino and Malvolio are fooled themselves about who they are and where they want and can be. Also, on a historical note, both Olivia and Feste the clown step (by default or self-attainment) out of the socially imposed stereotypes of their biologically born person. The reasons for Shakespeare's contradictions of characters are unknown; however, it can be hypothesized, knowing the man and his style that he was poking fun at elements of the society, in which he resided, as well as the ridiculousness of higher class citizens and the ritual absurdity of the lives they lived.…
- 1285 Words
- 4 Pages
Better Essays -
Reading this conversation between Viola and Feste the clown there is definite multiple meanings to each of the words that they both say. You can tell that Viola’s wit is matched to Feste’s which makes this conversation so cleverly written. This passage offers pun’s to the audience who understand that Cesario is truly Viola. And have Feste hinting that he knows Viola’s hidden identity. This passage offers hints to the truth of the Viola and the fact that Feste is truly not the fool that everyone believes he is. In this passage I will prove that this conversation is crucial to the plot, and defines b…
- 952 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
Tricks/Manipulation: There is quite a lot of manipulation of characters in this play. Such as Don Pedro and his friends tricking Beatrice and Benedick into loving each other. But also Don John who tricks Claudio into thinking his wife cheated. Maybe this is meant to symbolize the opposite, Don John manipulates people with a bad intent but Don Pedro does the opposite. Often when you hear the word manipulation it means something negative but you can use it in a good way such as Don Pedro.…
- 196 Words
- 1 Page
Satisfactory Essays -
While many will agree that Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night is critically acclaimed to be one of the most entertaining and well-liked pieces that he has written, there tends to be a discrepancy over how the characters in the play are portrayed when it comes to the importance of gender roles. After reading James C Bulman’s article over the Globe’s more recent performance of Twelfth Night and Shakespeare’s original written version, I realized that there are many ways that this famous piece has been portrayed and each has its own pros and cons.…
- 953 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
Deception is a theme prevalent throughout the play and most of the main characters are deceived in both in positive and negative ways, showing it as a double edged sword. Nearly all the characters also deceive other characters, further showing it as a double edged sword as it can be used by or against someone. Much of the deception in the play occurs as a result of the events at the masked ball, as the masque represents the beginning of both plots of deception by the two princes- Don John starts to break apart the romance between Hero and Claudio and Don Pedro begins to match make Beatrice and Benedick. This is a motif which Shakespeare uses as a dramatic device to cause confusion. After the events of the ball, a dramatic device of a double plot is used to contrast how deception can be used against the human condition in both a malicious and benign manner. The main deception of the play is directed by Don John towards Claudio, although the main dramatic focus of the play is deceptions involving Beatrice and Benedick. To a great extent, the reasons for deceiving others and reactions to deception are able to reveal serious aspects of the human condition.…
- 2299 Words
- 10 Pages
Better Essays -
William Shakespeare was an English poet, playwright, and actor, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. Shakespeare’s plays and poetry have been translated into every language and have been performed all over the world. Shakespeare’s plays have remained at the center of the theatrical repertoire through periods of changing dramatic tastes and they have adapted themselves to different culture and theatrical traditions. William Shakespeare was born in 1564.…
- 752 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
Olivia’s deluded love for ‘Cesario’ is also an infatuation engendered at first sight rather than love based on understanding of character (she convicts herself when she readily substitutes Sebastian for ‘Cesario’). Her case illustrates the rashness that love often causes; she is ready to “bestow” on Cesario anything but her chastity (“...That honour saved upon asking give?”) and makes unabashed advances to a pageboy lower in status. The high-flown language and impetuosity of Orsino and Olivia convey a love that is exaggerated and unsound.…
- 1770 Words
- 8 Pages
Powerful Essays -
Deceit is one of the main themes in the play. Throughout the play is used for good and cruel intentions. Some of the characters used to fake feelings and others to hide their deepest feelings. For example, when don Pedro woos Hero for Claudio. “Act 1 Scene 1lines 259-265.” Also, there is the case of Benedick and Beatrice always insulting each other as a way to hide their true feelings.…
- 181 Words
- 1 Page
Satisfactory Essays -
The use of deception adds depth, as well as humor, to the play, helping it in the process. When the trickery concerns Beatrice and Benedick, such as when Beatrice belittles Benedick while he pretends to be someone else, humor is found. Comedy is widely loved in the world, so the presence of it increases the enjoyability and popularity of the play. Furthermore, deception adds a human quality to the play that readers can relate to, because many use or experience deception in life. This theme yet continues to help the play by adding depth and conflict, changing the work from a light read to a more complex and study-worthy one. Trickery serves as a vessel for the main conflict, which is necessary in literature, and adds drama, which interests readers. Without trickery, this play would be a simple love story that involves humorous…
- 671 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
The plot of the play is based upon deliberate deceptions, some bad natured and others well mannered. The deception of Claudio and Don Pedro results in Hero's disgrace, while the hoax of her death prepares the way for her redemption and reconciliation with Claudio. Lines like "men were deceivers ever" bring about the fact that the deception is a key theme in the play. Nothing shows that deceit is essentially evil, but in the play it is sometimes difficult to…
- 805 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
As it was stated earlier in this essay, Act 3 Scene 4 exposes in Twelfth Night, as in numerous other plays by Shakespeare, a number of comparisons between an upper cast of characters, such as the masters and nobles, with a lower cast of characters, such as the servants. The way these set of characters are parallel in the plot implements a comic contradiction which may be further reinforced through the costumes these characters wear.…
- 1346 Words
- 6 Pages
Better Essays -
Viola contributes a great deal to the theme of Disguise versus Identity in Twelfth Night. Viola must bundle up her personal emotions which she has for Orsino. “Love sought is good, but given unsought is better” (Act iii, Scene I). The quotation describes Viola’s love for Orsino and her effort to disguise it causing false identity. The false identity confuses the characters’ in the novel as well as the readers. Viola’s distinct personality of her own individuality is that she is madly in love with Orsino and her effort to hide it. In Act V, Scene I, Viola reveals her hidden love for him which proves the fact that Identity…
- 4267 Words
- 18 Pages
Good Essays