Essay, Research Paper
The Interpretation of Act V Scene I
The Twelfth Night is a Shakespearean romantic comedy that is filled with plenty of humor and lots of deception. It is frequently read as a play about masking, about the conscious and unconscious assumption of false identities and about levels of self-knowledge and self-deception; this theme is played out prominently through Viola?s transsexual disguise (Kahn 43). The play is comprised of five acts and numerous scenes. However, I am only going to touch on one of these scenes in my paper. The scene I chose to write about is act V scene I. I chose this scene because it is the one that interested me the most, and I feel that it is also the scene with the most hidden meanings.
Act V scene I, in my opinion, is a very complicated scene. I am going to discuss the part of the scene just before Sebastian enters, with Viola disguised as Cesario. Viola, in this part, is surrounded by many people all of whom think she is someone other than the person she actually is. This is where Viola/Cesario speaking to Olivia protests undoubtedly her love for Orsino by saying, ?After him I love, More than I love these eyes, more than my life (Twelfth Night 5.1. 134).? Olivia, after hearing this, is confused and protests to Viola that they are married by saying, ?Whither, my lord? Cesario, husband, stay (Twelfth Night 5.1. 141)!? Viola/Cesario denies this and is shocked by the accusation. Olivia continues to press the issue by getting the priest to confirm the marriage. It is at this point, when Orsino hears and believes the priest?s confirmation of the marriage, that I feel he expresses signs of homosexuality towards Viola whom he still believes is Cesario. Orsino becomes filled with anger and jealousy towards Viola/Cesario saying, ?Farewell, and take her, but direct thy feet where thou and I henceforth may never meet. (Twelfth Night 5.1. 166-167).? At some level, Cesario is a homosexual object choice for both Olivia and Orsino; at another, a heterosexual one (Kahn 44). I believe that at this part of the scene Viola/Cesario is experiencing some form of an identity crisis. Although she is a woman who has deceived everyone into believing she is a man, she is now becoming bewildered by a strange turn of events. She?s being accused of denying having known Antonio and having beaten up Sir Toby Belch and Sir Andrew. She is being accused of acts that she has not done and has no recollection of ever doing. The reason she denies all of these wrong doings is because her brother, Sebastian, is responsible. This casts doubt in her mind as to who she really is and what is happening.
Sebastian enters the scene and his entrance, in a way, relieves Viola of all the accusations she has endured. It was Sebastian who Antonio has been looking for; it was Sebastian who beat up Sir Toby Belch and Sir Andrew, and finally it was Sebastian who has married Olivia. We come to realize this when he says:
I am sorry, madam, I have hurt your kinsman:
But had it been the brother of my blood,
I must have done no less with wit and safety.
I do perceive it hath offended you:
Pardon me, sweet one, even for the vows
We made each other but so late ago. (Twelfth Night 5.1. 207-213)
Antonio! O my dear Antonio,
How have the hours rack?d and tortur?d me,
Since I have lost thee! (Twelfth Night 5.1. 216-218)
At this point everyone is stunned not knowing who is who. In a sense, everyone feels as if they are seeing double. It?s ironic since Sebastian and Viola are twins. Once Viola and Sebastian realized they were brother and sister Viola feels as though she is free to cast off her masculine disguise and let everyone know that she is really a woman as she talks about putting back on her feminine clothes or her ?maiden weeds (Twelfth Night 5.1. 253).?
Karen Greif says that the recognition of identity is at first an experience involving only the reunited twins; but, as the facts of their kinship are brought forth, the circle of awareness expands to include Orsino and Olivia. They appreciate for the first time their shared folly in desiring the unobtainable and both discover true love in unexpected forms by sharing in the recognition of the twins? identities (53). Sebastian then turns to Olivia in an attempt to explain exactly what was going on and he says:
So comes it, lady, you have been mistook.
But nature to her bias drew in that.
You would have been contracted to a maid;
Nor are you therein, by my life, deceiv?d:
You are betroth?d both to a maid and man. (Twelfth Night 5.1. 257-261)
What he basically was saying was that Olivia mistook Viola for a man and almost married a female servant. Instead, she married Sebastian who will also serve her and who is a man. Nature?s bias is usually regarded as a heterosexual one, but the line is actually ambiguous; ?nature?s bias (Twelfth Night 5.1. 258)? can mean that Olivia followed nature in loving a woman, for a short and perhaps necessary period, before actually marrying a man (Kahn 45). Similarly, Orsino perhaps needed to see Viola as a girlish boy before he could accept her as a real and ardent woman (Kahn 45). However, the chain of events that has brought us to this point in the play has proven to be beneficial to Olivia and Orsino. Olivia?s mistaken marriage has already given her the right husband, and Orsino?s unconscious love for Cesario has made it clear where he is to find an adoring wife (Williams JR 43). My first impression of Olivia was to categorize her as a lesbian for falling in love with Viola/Cesario. I felt this way because although Viola was disguised as a man, she was portraying the personality of a female and that?s what Olivia fell in love with. As I read on through the play, my feelings on that matter changed. By the end of the play, I felt that Viola was imitating her brother?s personality and that is who Olivia really fell in love with and that is the reason she stays married to Sebastian at the end of the play. Coppelia Kahn?s interpretation of Viola is similar to mine. He says that Viola copes with the supposed loss of her twin brother by, in effect, becoming him; when she disguises herself as a man, she is another Sebastian, her twin?s twin (Kahn 42). I find Orsino?s expression of love to Viola interesting. He knows that Viola loves him because as Cesario she has declared her love to him numerous times Yet Orsino says to Viola, ?Boy, thou hast said to me a thousand times thou never should?st love woman like to me (Twelfth Night 5.1. 265-266).? Viola re-confirms her love for him again and Orsino decides to shift his feelings of love from Olivia to Viola. Although Orsino now knows Viola?s secret of being a woman, he still refers to her as Cesario, her male name, which can be seen in the last line of the play.
Cesario, come;
For so you shall be while you are a man;
But when in other habits you are seen,
Orsino?s mistress, and his fancy?s queen. (Twelfth Night 5.1. 384-387)
This still adds some question of Orsino?s sexuality. The fact that he claimed Viola as his mistress indicates a physical attraction to her, which leads me to believe that he was also attracted to her when he thought she was a man. Now he can openly express his interest and love for Viola because she is a woman and he no longer needs to suppress his true feelings.
Greif, Karen, Modern Critical Interpretations. Ed. Harold Bloom.
New York, New Haven, Philadelphia: Chelsea House Publisher, 1987
Kahn, Coppelia, “Choosing the Right Mate in Twelfth Night,? Modern Critical Interpretations. Ed. Harold Bloom. New York, New Haven, Philadelphia: Chelsea House Publisher, 1987
Williams, Porter JR Twentieth Century Interpretations of the Twelfth Night. Ed. Walter N King. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1968
Shakespeare, William. The Twelfth Night Ed. J.M. Lothian and T.W. Craik. London: Methuen & CO. LTD, 1975
Другие работы по теме:
Murder Scene Essay Research Paper Throughout the
Murder Scene Essay, Research Paper Throughout the murder scene of Shakespeare’s Macbeth reveals his weakness but also his strong conscience. Because of Lady Macbeth’s persuasiveness, he finds the courage to kill Duncan, but he now shows his fear, sorrow, and regret for the assassination of Duncan. When Macbeth arrives in the scene after having killed Duncan, he is shaken when he thinks he hears someone because he fears being caught.
Proteus Essay Research Paper Act II Scene
Proteus Essay, Research Paper Act II, Scene VI is a soliloquy delivered by Proteus, wherein he is pondering whether or not to pursue Silvia, the love of his dear friend, Valentine. We see a dramatic change in Proteus by the end of this scene.
Irony Of Macbeth Essay Research Paper IRONY
Irony Of Macbeth Essay, Research Paper IRONY IN MACBETH Shakespeare s play Macbeth portrays much irony. Such as the scene where Macbeth is made to believe that he is supposed to become king when really he is not. Another ironic scene is where Macbeth, on the outside gives the impression that he is trustworthy and loves Duncan, yet on the inside he longs for the death of Duncan.
The Four Pillars Of Acting Essay Research
Paper The four pillars of acting are; style, emotion, objective and sense memory. The first of these, style, is considered the most important thing that an actor must learn. Every play and every scene has its very own style, and one must learn to play the part in these different styles. An actor would not express his lines in a comedy in with the same feeling and style the same line would have in a drama.
A Foul Mood Essay Research Paper The
A Foul Mood Essay, Research Paper The first scene in William Shakesphere?s, Macbeth, immediately sets the dark, evil, mood of the play by focusing the readers’ attention to the involvement and suspense of the supernatural. The
Schindlers List Essay Research Paper Steven Spielbergs
Schindlers List Essay, Research Paper Steven Spielberg?s masterpiece ?Schindler?s List? portrays the indifference and injustice associated with the Holocaust. Those events of guilt and suffering were so terrible in their scale and intensity that it was only suitable for a documentary style of interpretation.
Most Imp Scene
– Great Exp. Stage 3 Essay, Research Paper The most dramatic scene in stage three of Great Expectations is when Pip goes back to Miss Havisham’s to confront her about pretending to be, or at least leading Pip to believe that she was, his benefactor. At first, Miss Havisham doesn’t understand why Pip has come.
Discussion About The Dramatic Importance And Effectiveness
Of Act 3 Scene 2 In ‘A Winter’s Tale’ Essay, Research Paper This scene is important in context to the entire play because it provides a crucial change of mood.This scene, in one respect, is the climax of the dark, tragic half of the play. The sombre undertones of jealousy, betrayal, anger, regret, grief and sorrow are relieved by the light hearted, slightly comic scene which follows.
Untitled Essay Research Paper Lisa WilsonEnglish 101Story
Untitled Essay, Research Paper Lisa Wilson English 101 Story Outline 1 December 2000 1. Intro A.The story of ?The Jilting of Granny Weatherall? by Katherine Ann Porter is portrayed in two different ways by the video and story version.
My Presentation Of Macbeth Act 3 Scene
4 Essay, Research Paper 10Hn This essay will show my interpretation of Act 3 Scene 4 from Macbeth. This scene is a turning point in the play because we see the first glimpse of Macbeth?s guilty conscience, which becomes the cause of
Biology Interpretation Essay Research Paper InterpretationStatistical calculations
Biology: Interpretation Essay, Research Paper Interpretation Statistical calculations made with the results obtained, conclude the null hypothesis previously made, is acceptable and there is in fact a relationship between percentage epiphyte cover and height from the ground. However, when studying the tables of results it is difficult to find a pattern in results obtained.
Jefferson Vs Hamilton Essay Research Paper Between
Jefferson Vs Hamilton Essay, Research Paper Between Jefferson and Hamilton the two both wanted what was best for the newly formed country but just had different opinions on how to go about it. Hamilton wanted the United States to be governed by an aristocracy while Jefferson had his faith in the people and disagreed with Hamilton.
Falstaff Essay Research Paper Falstaff Lion
Falstaff Essay, Research Paper Falstaff: Lion or Loon In Maurice Morgan?s ?The Dramatic Character of Falstaff?, he gives us a critical interpretation of the Shakespearian character, Sir John Falstaff, looking at him from every point of view but a Layman?s one. He summarizes Falstaff incompletely, including quotes from Henry IV, Part Two and not as much from Henry IV, Part One, which gives more information about ?Old John?s? character (in the first scene with Falstaff?s character) from the beginning, but rather stays focused on what leads to his tragic fate.
Relationship Of Beatrice And Benedick In Act
Iv Scene I Of Much Ado About Nothing Essay, Research Paper Act IV scene i is a turning point for Beatrice and Bene*censored*. At the beginning of the play they both pronounce their desire to never marry. However, at this point in the play the two say that they are in love, when unbeknownst to them they have been tricked into loving each other.
The Tempest Caliban
’s Ignorance Essay, Research Paper The Tempest: Caliban’s Ignorance Shakespeare portrays Stephano’s view of Caliban as an ignorant slave by taking advantage of the “monster”(Shakespeare, Act II, Scene II, line 31) while he is
The Well Essay Research Paper A written
The Well Essay, Research Paper A written comparison of “The Well”’s adaptation into film. By Sean Kennedy The main comparison to be drawn between the film and the book version of “The Well” is the fact that the book is able to be more free form than the film, which is much more concrete in content. This is because the novel is basically a character driven piece relying on deep character development throughout the novel with the two characters shifting in relation to each other.
The Metamorphosis The Last Four Pages Essay
, Research Paper The Metamorphosis: The Last Four Pages At first glance, the final four pages of Franz Kafka’s novel The Metamorphosis seem to be meaningless. This assumption, however, is anything but
Conflict In The Miracle Worker Essay Research
Paper In my opinion, all the types of conflict occur in ?the Miracle Worker?. There is internal conflict such as man versus self. There is also external conflict such as man versus man, man
The Wars Robert
’s Struggle Essay, Research Paper In the book The Wars, by Timothy Findley, asserting maleness is a big deal. Men aren’t supposed to do what is feminine. Through the many incidents in the novel, maleness is most emphasized on, reason being of the war in the novel, all these men have to act like “tough guys” because their sensitivity will be discriminated.
American Ethics Essay Research Paper American Beauty
American Ethics Essay, Research Paper American Beauty is a very intricate film portraying the sarcasm intertwined within American values, or beauties. Every scene within American Beauty influences each character in the movie as well as other scenes. The structure of this flick is as if it were not possible to remove one scene from the work, otherwise the entire movie would collapse like a domino effect.
BookMovie Comparison Hamlet Essay Research Paper Usually
Book-Movie Comparison Hamlet Essay, Research Paper Usually, when a movie is made about a story in a book or a play, the two stories are not exactly the same. The movie tends to add small details or leave some out in order to meet time limits and to make the story what they think will be more interesting. Such is the case with Shakespeare s Hamlet.
A Comparison And Contrast In Both A
’s Worn By Hester And Dimm Essay, Research Paper A Comparison and Contrast In Both A’s Worn By Hester and Dimmesdale The two A’s worn in the novel by both Hester and Dimmesdale are dramatically
Act4 Scene 4 Essay Research Paper For
Act4 Scene 4 Essay, Research Paper For this paper, I have chosen to analyze Act 4, scene 4. Here is a synopsis of the scene: Fortinbras’s army crosses the stage, and Fortinbras drops a captain off to visit the Danish court. The captain meets Hamlet, Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern. Hamlet asks about the army, and the captain says that Norway and Poland are fighting a stupid war over a worthless piece of land.
Romeo And Juliet Balcony Scene Essay
Essay, Research Paper Romeo and Juliet is a very famous play written by William Shakespeare. It is a story of two young lovers, whose love was destined for destruction. In the balcony scene of Romeo and Juliet, Romeo is proven to be romantic while Juliet is more practical.
Settings That Describe Mood
– Analysis Essay, Research Paper Scenes Setting the Mood Moods of a book are very important in describing the tone of the scene, as well as the atmosphere around the scene. It is very easy to pick up on these hints because usually
Hamlet Video Comparison Essay Research Paper Hamlet
Hamlet: Video Comparison Essay, Research Paper Hamlet: Video Comparison Hamlet is one of the best known pieces of literature around the world, and has fascinated many people from all walks of life, from critics to
Ethan Frome Book And Movie Review Essay
, Research Paper The book and the movie were quite different both in interpretation, and my personal liking. The book was more in depth and in tune to the basic part of the story, while the movie was written in a way to expand the length. The book did not always move at a steady pace, as did the movie. However, the novel allowed us to portray our own version of the characters in our own mind.
Hamlet Movie Essay Research Paper The movie
Hamlet Movie Essay, Research Paper The movie of Hamlet was an excellent, as far as book-movies go. I believe it was produced with focus, reason, and logic. The characters were also portrayed with
The Witches Are Responsible For What Happens
To Macbeth Essay, Research Paper Although Macbeth does take actions that lead to his downfall, I believe that he is not totally responsible for what happens. Although he takes the action that leads to his downfall, he perhaps would not have done this if the witches had not told him that he would be king in Act 1 Scene 3.
Romeo And Juliet First Balcony Scene Essay
, Research Paper Romeo and Juliet: The First Balcony Scene The first balcony scene in Romeo and Juliet is one of the most famous scenes ever written. William Shakespeare had in his mind that he wanted the main characters to show their affection in a dramatic-type scene. This scene is the time when they proclaim their love for each other and arrange the plans for their eventual marriage.
Blood As An Image In Macbeth Essay
, Research Paper Shakespeare uses the symbol of blood in MacBeth to represent treason, guilt, murder and death. These ideas are constant throughout the book. There are many examples of blood representing these three ideas in the book.