Study Notes on Shakespeare's Twelfth Night

Twelfth Night Study Notes

Background and Context

  • Title Explanation: Twelfth Night, or What You Will   - The alternate title references the holiday season involving ritualized disorder and revelry, allowing for the expression of one's fantasies.
  • Historical Context   - Written around 1601 in England and published in 1623.   - Literary Period: The Renaissance.
  • Themes Relevant to Context   - Feast of Misrule: Tied to the Twelfth Night holiday celebrated on January 5, where social hierarchies were reversed, including roles where kings are treated as commoners and vice versa.

Overview of the Play's Plot

  • Setting: Illyria, which lies on the Adriatic coast among contemporary Croatia, Albania, and Montenegro.
  • Main Character: Viola disguises herself as Cesario, a pageboy, after being shipwrecked and separated from her twin brother, Sebastian.
  • Conflicts:   - Duke Orsino's unrequited love for Lady Olivia, who mourns her brother.   - Viola's love for Orsino (while disguised as Cesario) and Olivia's love for Cesario—which creates an intricate love triangle.

Character Analysis

  • Viola (Cesario)   - Protagonist, aristocratic, shipwrecked in Illyria.   - Disguises as Cesario to serve Orsino.   - Intelligent, resourceful, and demonstrates emotional depth.
  • Orsino   - Duke of Illyria, obsessed with Olivia but quickly shifts affection to Viola after her true identity is revealed.   - Embodies melodrama and self-indulgence in love.
  • Olivia   - Beautiful noblewoman, vowing to mourn her brother for seven years which is broken when she falls for Cesario (Viola).   - Reflects superficiality in her emotions paralleling Orsino.
  • Sebastian   - Viola's twin brother, unaware of Viola's survival.   - Noble and sincere, contrasting with the capriciousness of Orsino and Olivia.
  • Malvolio   - Steward to Olivia; pompous and self-important, the target of humor and pranks by other characters.
  • Maria   - Olivia’s clever lady-in-waiting; devises the prank against Malvolio.
  • Sir Toby Belch and Sir Andrew Aguecheek   - Olivia’s uncle and a foolish suitor respectively; represent the “low” characters.
  • Feste   - The clown, who provides insights into the nature of foolishness and intelligence.