Twelfth Night is a play of mistaken identities. Viola and her twin brother Sebastian have been shipwrecked, and Viola believes that her brother has drowned. Her brother is infact safe and has been saved by a man named Antonio. To look after herself, Viola dresses in clothes that make her look like her brother and begins working for Orsino, the Duke of Illyria, and helps him to try and woo his love interest, Olivia.
Mistaken Identities
Olivia is also mourning the death of her brother and is in no mood for the affections of the Duke. Comically, Olivia falls in love with Viola who is in disguise as Cesario. This leads to mix-up and confusion when Sebastian and his rescuer Antonio arrive at the court. There are mistaken fights, arrests, and love when Olivia convinces Sebastian, who she believes is 'Cesario', to marry her.
Although Twelfth Night is a comedy, there are sad aspects to it. There are characters who become entangled in the plot and who do not fare so well. For example, the characters of Olivia's household find entertainment at the expense of others. They enjoy the humiliation of those who can not keep up with their banter.
Tricks and Mockery
Malvolio and Sir Andrew are two characters who do not get to join in with the comedy. Malvolio is made a mockery of when he is tricked into believing that Olivia is in love with him, and although generally a solemn character unwilling to join in with the revelries, he opens himself to emotion only to be laughed at.
Sir Andrew is unaware that his lack of intelligence creates humour for the other characters, and a reader cannot help but feel a little sorry for him as he is unable to stick up for himself. He is the fool of the play, and although he is unable to intentionally be comical, he is in himself humorous due to his absence of wit.
Conclusion of the Play
The final stages of the play show all the confusions cleared up – Viola and Sebastian are reunited, Olivia marries Sebastian, and Viola is to marry Orsino, who she fell in love with at the beginning of the play. Maria and Sir Toby have already married. It seems fitting that a play of love and emotions concludes with marriage for the main characters.
However, the marriages as ways of tying up the ends of the plot do not create a perfect ending, as it shows how fast the characters can switch their emotions, and suggests that perhaps their emotions were not entirely sincere to begin with. Malvolio has no recompense for the torture he has been put through, and he leaves the play vowing revenge on all the characters.
 |
