How far do you agree with the view that Twelfth Night is a comedy where tragedy lurks just under the surface Essay Example For Students

How far do you agree with the view that Twelfth Night is a comedy where tragedy lurks just under the surface Essay Although there is little speculation as to whether or not Twelfth Night is a comedy when watching or reading the play, the majority regard the play as a comedy and not a tragedy. Purely because of the many funny scenarios that occur throughout the play, and because of the structure of the play which fits a pattern with other comedies written by Shakespeare. This structure may include: mistaken identities, separation and unification, male friendship, a clever servant, heightened tensions often within a family and multiple plots. Many of Shakespeares comedies contain most if not all of these elements. In Twelfth Night these elements are clearly apparent which will be explored in our search to answer the question: whether Twelfth Night is a comedy where tragedy lurks just under the surface? Twelfth Night would have undoubtedly been regarded as a comedy in the Elizabethan theatre. Shakespeare obviously intends for it to be perceived as a comedy and not to be taken seriously as the subtitle suggests What You Will, meaning the audience can perceive the play how they like. Its name Twelfth Night has nothing to do with the play but was named after the Twelfth Night holiday and was to be performed as part of Twelfth Night celebrations; further implying the play is to bring happiness and laughter but clearly not sorrow. However even though the play stands as a comedy, the tragedy of the character Malvolio and the cruelty shown towards him still questions the humanity of the audience and society in Elizabethan times in finding such a heartless and spiteful circumstance facetious. This play is clearly not a tragedy and even though much cruelty and vindictiveness is projected at Malvolio by the characters Sir Toby, Maria, Sir Andrew, Fabian and Feste; they are not evil, merciless characters of the play. However many of them justify the reason why Twelfth Night is a hilarious comedy. Sir Toby Belch, uncle to Olivia, is a fairly important character of the play in ensuring it remains as comical as possible and a distraction for people of Elizabethan times from their daily routine (the real world). Sir Toby is fat, crude and spends the entire play drunk; however Sir Toby is witty and intelligent, making many jokes and puns. A prime example would be the scene where he forces the unwilling Cesario into a duel with petrified Sir Andrew, terrifying both of them with personas (lies) he creates of them; telling these lies to the opposite duelling partner. He notifies Sir Andrew that Cesario is the very devil, a Virago; which causes panic and fear throughout Sir Andrews whole body, although she is anything but that. He informs Cesario, who is Viola a woman masquerading as a castrated man that Sir Andrew is full of despite and as bloody as the hunter, quick, skilful and deadly. This is one of the many comical geniuses that Shakespeare creates for the character Sir Toby. Another humorous plot is where Sir Toby tricks Malvolio into dressing stupidly and behaving absurdly; which eventually leads to him being put in jail for supposedly being mad and possessed by the devil. Sir Andrew, the drinking partner of Sir Toby, who was also involved in the callousness shown to Malvolio, is not evil either. He is anything but evil; he is a foolish character of the play. He is manipulated by Sir Toby into pursuing Lady Olivia since this will maintain Sir Tobys drinking lifestyle since Sir Andrew is very rich earning some three thousand ducats a year meaning the unintelligent Sir Andrew is greatly valued by Sir Toby. The comical example mentioned of Cesario duelling Sir Toby was not for the benefit of Sir Andrew. Sir Toby manipulated Sir Andrew into duelling with Cesario who became a threat to Sir Tobys plans; the unwitting Sir Andrew went along with the duel thinking it was for his benefit in trying to win Olivia. Clearly Sir Andrew is not evil but foolish. However he did dislike Malvolio for he found him annoying as he threatened to tell Olivia of their escapades (drinking and making noise all night). It would now seem Sir Toby seems immoral with his plot against Malvolio and his constant manipulation of Sir Andrew. He does not even care that Sir Andrew could be injured in the duel with Cesario but only cares about his money and drinking. Even though the odds are weighed against Sir Toby he is still an entertaining, comical figure of the play making Twelfth Night one of Shakespeares most loved comedies. Fabian servant to Lady Olivia also dislikes Malvolio and also participates in Malvolios downfall referring to Malvolio as a Cur mongrel dog. He relishes the letter: What dish o poison has she dressed him! This shows he will enjoy seeing Malvolio completely humiliated and is constantly enthusiastic about the plot devised to get revenge on Malvolio. Fabian may seem cruel and cunning also but he does not play a major part in tormenting Malvolio when he is locked up unlike Feste. The two soliloquies express EssayIn the end he does not get to marry Olivia which was his main aim throughput the play when he duelled with Cesario, and he is less wealthy as cunning Sir Toby has sponged off him. The audience should really feel sorry for Sir Andrew because he is regarded as a fool by all other characters, especially Sir Toby who is supposed to be a good friend of his. However on the whole the play ends happily for the characters, with marriage for the main characters Viola and Orsino who were wedded and Olivia and Sebastian who were also wedded. This is the ideal way to end if the play does not want to seem like a tragedy as it is the most happiness for the main characters. Viola who finally finds out her brother Sebastian is alive and vice versa, she also gets to marry the man she has loved from the start Orsino. Orsino is happy as he has someone to love who loves him back. Olivia is happy as she has fallen in love with the words and persona of Cesario and has transferred those feelings to Sebastian because he looks so alike Viola. Sebastian is happy or overwhelmed that he has just married a woman he barely knows but obviously does not mind. This happy ending for the main characters that were not involved in the sub plot with the tricking of Malvolio with Marias letter which is a trademark for comedies, is ludicrous. In real life we know this could never happen; all those times Orsino spoke of his love so passionately for Olivia he just transfers them simply in the blink of an eye to Viola. This play although deals with real feelings felt by humans such as sadness, pain, anger and hatred it is just joyful fantasy play full of impossibilities. For example: grown adults are shown behaving like unruly children, there are no parents to tell the lovers what to do, the behaviour of the lovers as they fall in and out of love is irrational, the story of the play is absurd it seems unlikely that Viola could disguise herself so successfully as a man and that she and her brother could be mistaken for each other, the realistic and apparently serious and responsible person Malvolio, is actually a hypocrite, has an appalling trick played upon him and is rejected by almost every other character. This undoubtedly proves that Twelfth Night is a comedy, however I do agree with the title that states Twelfth Night is a comedy with tragedy lurking under the surface. In combination with the humorous characters, happy endings, titanic confusion, and the pure absurdity of this play it is undoubtedly a comedy. However Shakespeare does cut it fine with him playing around a bit too much. The tragedy of Malvolio and the cruelty shown towards him definitely makes people think twice however he just isnt an important enough character for the audience to feel the play is a tragedy. Sir Andrew neither gets an easy ride as mentioned adding to the tragedy that lurks in this play. Although this is the main misfortune that lurks in this dubious play there is the possibility of a much larger catastrophe with regards to the love triangle that occurs that would completely change the genre of the play from a light hearted comedy to blood ridden tragedy such as was Hamlet another prestigious play from Shakespeare. If ever Orsino or Olivia were to find out the Cesario is really a woman (Viola) there could be disastrous consequences. If ever Cesario was to react to her feelings for Orsino he may be angered and put Cesario in prison. However, probably the most likely what if scenario: if Orsino was to find out Olivia loved Cesario, Orsino would think Cesario has tricked him and betrayed him; since the whole point of Cesario visiting Olivia is to try persuade her to marry or love Orsino. There are also possible other tragedies: if Malvolio was to exert his revenge by killing Sir Toby, Feste, Fabian, Maria or Sir Andrew the play would definitely become a tragedy. If Sir Andrew realised Sir Toby had been manipulating and using him, he may declare revenge on Sir Toby and possibly on Olivia thinking if he cant have her no-one can. In conclusion I certainly agree with the statement that Twelfth Night is a comedy where tragedy lurks just under the surface which has been thoroughly proved throughout this essay by the fact that there are elements of tragedy but just not enough for the play to make people think its a tragedy.