Twelfth Night Themes and Character Dynamics

Flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to the characters and themes of Shakespeare's 'Twelfth Night'.

Desire

A power that overrides conventions of class, religion, and gender in 'Twelfth Night'.

Self-knowledge

Understanding one's true desires, often gained through love and experience, as depicted in the characters of 'Twelfth Night'.

Orsino

The Duke in 'Twelfth Night' who believes he loves Olivia but ultimately falls for Viola.

Olivia

A character who initially vows to mourn her brother and avoid love but ends up falling for Cesario.

Viola

The proactive character disguised as Cesario, who drives much of the plot's action in 'Twelfth Night'.

Mistaken Identity

A central theme in 'Twelfth Night' where characters are frequently misidentified, leading to confusion and comedic situations.

Cesario

Viola’s male disguise which complicates the romantic entanglements in 'Twelfth Night'.

Resolution

The series of marriages at the end of 'Twelfth Night' that restore order after the chaos of mistaken identities and desires.

Feste the Fool

The character who comments on the events of 'Twelfth Night' and provides a bittersweet perspective on the outcomes.

Conflict

The struggles between characters, primarily stemming from unrequited love and mistaken identities, which propel the plot of 'Twelfth Night'.