Twelfth Night Essay Questions

To what extent is Twelfth Night related to the holiday after which it is named?

Twelfth Night is titled after a holiday celebration that takes place on the last night of the Twelve Days of Christmas. Many speculate that Shakespeare wrote the play to be performed during Twelfth Night festivities, though its composition history is largely uncertain. The play does share elements in common with the holiday, however, notably through its focus on food/indulgence and role reversal. Traditionally, Twelfth Night festivities were a time to imagine a topsy-turvy society in which gender could be performed and social status was not fixed. Both the cross-dressing character of Viola and the ambitious servant Malvolio embody these themes.

How do Viola and Olivia both represent instances of gender role-reversal?

While the discourse around gender roles in the play usually focuses on Viola because of her cross-dressing endeavor as Cesario, Olivia is another character who defies gender roles, not through her appearance but through her behavior. Despite swearing off men for seven years to mourn her brother, Olivia quickly falls in love with Cesario and boldly pursues him with the adamance of a male suitor. Then, when Sebastian arrives in Illyria, Olivia proposes to him, assuming he is Cesario. Olivia's actions throughout the play are persistent and bold, showcasing her own form of gender reversal as she steps into the role of romantic aggressor.

How does the play suggest that Orsino's love for Olivia is not genuine?

The beginning of the play features a grim Orsino lamenting his love for Olivia, so much so that he asks to be made sick by "the food of love" in order to eliminate his appetite for desire altogether. However, the play suggests through his various complaints that his love for Olivia is misguided. Most notably, when describing the first time he saw Olivia, he says that he was turned into a hart (a male deer) and hunted by his own desire. This metaphor is an unconventional take on the image of the hart (usually a woman) being pursued by a hunter (usually a male lover). That Orsino thinks of himself as both the pursuer and the pursued is a reflection of his self-interest that he has interpreted as affection for Olivia.

What significance does Feste have in the events of the play?

Feste is a professional fool, meaning he is employed to entertain the people he serves. Feste subscribes to the early modern theatrical convention of assigning the fool the wisest role in the play. More often than not, Feste understands more about the characters' intentions than they do themselves, and he frequently comments on some of the play's major ironies and tensions. He is also a mouthpiece for meta-theatrical commentary, as he expresses both his appreciation and skepticism for people who work with words (like Shakespeare and other playwrights). Feste warns that words are like gloves that can be turned inside out, manipulated, and misinterpreted, raising questions for the audience about the role of playwrights and poets in society.

What are audiences to make of Orsino's decision to continue referring to Viola as Cesario?

At the end of the play, Viola reveals her true identity and stability is seemingly restored – Viola marries Orsino and Olivia marries Sebastian. However, Orsino remarks to his betrothed that as long as she is dressed as a man, he will continue to call her Cesario. This ending has puzzled critics for years, as it seems to challenge the notion that all is returned to "normal" at the end of the play. What Orsino's choice ultimately suggests is something that contemporary audiences will likely recognize throughout the earlier acts of the play – that part of Viola's appeal is due to her androgynous appearance as a cross-dressing woman. Of course, Orsino's choice could also be a playful nod toward the fact that the actor playing Viola would have been a young man, himself dressed in drag to portray a woman.