Twelfth Night essays

Shakespeare's “Twelfth Night” is one of his most celebrated and beloved plays, filled with memorable characters, witty dialogue, and intricate plot twists. Set in the mythical kingdom of Illyria, the play explores themes of love, gender, identity, and social class, and has been a favorite of audiences and scholars alike for centuries. In this page of sample essays, we will delve into the various aspects of “Twelfth Night”, exploring its characters, themes, language, and historical context to gain a deeper understanding of this classic work of literature.

Social Ranking in Twelfth Night, The Busy Body and Pygmalion

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Social rankings can be found in any society. Though they all present differently, as an economical hierarchy or a hierarchy determined by gender, and sometimes can be less prevalent, they are always there, subconsciously or not. Through the analysis of Twelfth Night, The Busy Body, and Pygmalion it will become easy to track the progression … Read more

Orsino’s Narcissism and Idealism in “Twelfth Night”: Exploring Love’s Effects on Us

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Orsino’s exclamation of “Methought she purged the air of pestilence” shows us the strength that the experience of love has on us. Throughout Twelfth Night Shakespeare vividly presents love as fluid and dynamic with different characters having varying mindsets to what they believe the perception of love is. Love is portrayed as madness provoking, idealistic … Read more

Ruthless Exploitation, Dark Humor Revealed in “Twelfth Night” by Riley Lafnitzegger

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Riley Lafnitzegger October 31st, 2019 Professor Gearing The Darkness in Twelfth Night When you take away the love stories, all that is left of Twelfth Night are stories of bullying, mistreatment, and exploitation. The play displays a stark contrast between the lives of nobleman and the lives of laymen—the haves and the have nots. These … Read more

Uncovering the Dark Truths of Twelfth Night: The Haves and Have-Nots’ Exploitation

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Riley Lafnitzegger October 31st, 2019 Professor Gearing The Darkness in Twelfth Night When you take away the love stories, all that is left of Twelfth Night are stories of bullying, mistreatment, and exploitation. The play displays a stark contrast between the lives of nobleman and the lives of laymen—the haves and the have nots. These … Read more

Uncovering the Dark Side of Twelfth Night | The Mistreatment Of Secondary Characters

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When you take away the love stories, all that is left of Twelfth Night are stories of bullying, mistreatment, and exploitation. The play displays a stark contrast between the lives of nobleman and the lives of laymen—the haves and the have nots. These actions stem from a constant theme of selfishness, as the well-off characters … Read more

Intensifying Comedy: Exploring Misunderstanding in William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night

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Twelfth Night Essay Johnson In the Elizabethan play Twelfth Night, William Shakespeare suggests that deception and mistaken identity can be used to intensify the use of dramatic irony for comedic effect. By using the art of disguise as a basis for dramatic irony; where the audience is aware of something that the characters in the … Read more

Exploring the Use of Dramatic Irony and Deception in William Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night

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In the Elizabethan play Twelfth Night, William Shakespeare suggests that deception and mistaken identity can be used to intensify the use of dramatic irony for comedic effect. By using the art of disguise as a basis for dramatic irony; where the audience is aware of something that the characters in the play do not, Shakespeare … Read more

Examining Gender in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night and Judith Butler’s Gender Performativity Theory

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Shakespeare’s comedies have largely used the cross-dressing troupe as a means to induce laughter in the audiences, largely of the Elizabethan age, however, with the evolution of ideas around femininity, female dignity and even gender itself, this cross-dressing has been seen in a new light. This paper shall discuss the cross-dressing of Viola as Cesario … Read more

Exploring Mistaken Identity in Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night

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When one thinks about identity, many think about who they are. Identity involves qualities, beliefs, personality, looks and/or expressions that makes up a person. When people begin to change, and alter their characteristics in society, it’s a sense of mistaken identity. Whether it’s a different look, or tone of voice, the person many around one … Read more

Twelfth Night: Shakespeare’s Love Triangle Explores Love vs. Infatuation

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The comedic play Twelfth Night, written by William Shakespeare, a woman named Viola shipwrecks on an island and disguises herself as a man in order to work for the Duke Orsino. Orsino hires Viola as a love messenger to Countess Olivia. Olivia, clearly not interested in Orsino, falls in love with Viola who throughout the … Read more

Comparing ‘She’s The Man’ (2006) and Twelfth Night – Viola

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She’s The Man (2006), Andy Fickman’s film adaptation of William Shakespeare’s comedic play, Twelfth Night, breathes new life into the character of Viola, as a sporty teenage girl in the modernised world of the 21st century. Whilst both female protagonists share a plethora of commonalities, such as their engagement in cross-dressing as a form of … Read more

English and Italian themes in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night

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Many students and scholars agree that William Shakespeare contributed significantly to the wide array of current English literature. Shakespeare’s work is unique, original and often contains thought provoking discussion. It is believed that Shakespeare conducted thorough research before writing in order to bring a natural sense of humor and to replicate real people within his … Read more

Twelfth Night – discussion of sex and gender

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As Barber notes, ‘holiday for the Elizabethan sensibility implied a contrast with “everyday” … the release of that one day was understood to be a temporary licence, a misrule which implied rule’ (Barber, p.10). Thus, while Twelfth Night creates a space for the discussion of sex and gender, the patriarchal and heterosexual institution of marriage … Read more

Twelfth Night and The Merchant of Venice

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Using the chosen texts, Twelfth Night and The Merchant of Venice, this essay will consider whether or not the dramatic effects of deception and disguise are significant in Shakespeare’s works. Deception and disguise show difference between appearance and reality in Shakespearian drama and often go hand in hand within Shakespeare’s plays. There are, for example, … Read more

Deception & Disguise in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night & The Merchant of Venice

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 “Twelfth Night and The Merchant of Venice”; Using the chosen texts, Twelfth Night and The Merchant of Venice, this essay will consider whether or not the dramatic effects of deception and disguise are significant in Shakespearean works. Deception and disguise show the difference between appearance and reality and often go hand in hand within … Read more

Exploring Love in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night: Uncovering Different Types of Love and Their Desires

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 ay in heThe Merriam Webster dictionary defines love as “a feeling of strong or constant affection for a person” – however, this does not encompass a fraction of the feeling a person has when he or she loves something. Because the sensation differs from one person to the next, there is no possible way … Read more

Writing essays on Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night

When writing an essay about “Twelfth Night”, here are some key themes, topics, and points to consider:

  • Gender and identity: “Twelfth Night” features a number of characters who disguise themselves as the opposite sex, blurring the lines between gender and identity. Analyzing the portrayal of gender and identity in the play and its relevance to contemporary society can be an interesting topic for exploration.
  • Love and desire: Love and desire are central themes in “Twelfth Night”, with characters falling in love with each other and struggling to express their feelings. Analyzing the different types of love depicted in the play, such as romantic love, unrequited love, and self-love, can provide insight into the characters and their motivations.
  • Social class and hierarchy: The play also explores issues of social class and hierarchy, with characters from different backgrounds interacting with each other. Examining how social class impacts the relationships and interactions between characters can be an interesting topic for analysis.
  • Humor and comedy: “Twelfth Night” is known for its humor and wit, with many memorable comic moments throughout the play. Analyzing the use of humor and comedy in the play and its impact on the audience can be an interesting topic for exploration.
  • Language and literary devices: Shakespeare is known for his mastery of language and use of literary devices, such as metaphor, simile, and imagery. Analyzing the language and literary devices used in “Twelfth Night” can provide insight into the characters and themes of the play.
  • Historical context: “Twelfth Night” was written during the Elizabethan era, and analyzing its historical context can provide a deeper understanding of the play and its themes. Examining the political, social, and cultural context in which the play was written can help to shed light on its significance and meaning.

By exploring these themes and topics when writing an essay about “Twelfth Night”, you can provide a comprehensive analysis of the play and its significance.