Gender Roles in Twelfth Night Essay -- William Shakespeare Twelfth Nig

Born on approximately April 23, 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, William Shakespeare is considered by many an(prenominal) to have been the greatest writer the English language has ever known. His literary legacy included 37 plays, 154 sonnets, and five major poems. Among his many plays is the not sufficient, twelfth part shadow, a romantic comedy, placed in a festive strain in which three couples are brought together happily. The play opens with Orsino, the Duke of Illyria, expressing his deep relish for the Countess Olivia. Meanwhile, the shipwrecked Viola disguises herself as a man and endeavors to enter the Dukes service. Although she has jilted his suit, the Duke then employs Viola, who takes the name of Cesario, to woo Olivia for him. As the play continues, Cesario falls in retire with the Duke, and Olivia falls in love with Cesario, who is really Viola disguised. Maria, Olivias servant woman, desires to seek revenge on Malvolio, Olivias steward. To the delight of Si r Toby, Olivias uncle, and his friend Sir Andrew, Maria comes up with a plot to drop love letters supposedly written by Olivia in Malvolios path. When she does, they hear him, along with Fabian, another servant, as Malvolio falls for the bait. Believing that Olivia loves him, he makes a fool of himself (Napierkowski 3). The plot deepens as Cesario proceeds to woo Olivia for the Duke. It is only the turn time that Cesario appears at Olivias home when Olivia openly declares her love for Cesario. throughout this time, Sir Andrew has been nursing a hope to win Olivias love. When he plans to consider up hope of her love, Sir Toby suggests that Sir Andrew fight with Cesario to impress Olivia. Cesario, however, refuses to fight. At the said(prenominal) time, Violas brother, Sebastian, who is also shipwrecked, makes his way to safe lodging in Illyria with Antonio the sea captain. After the fight between Cesario and Sir Andrew begins, Antonio intervenes to save Cesario, whom he takes for Sebastian. exclusively the Dukes officers promptly arrest Antonio for a past offense. Then, Olivia later comes upon Sir Andrew and Sebastian bustle at her home. Olivia, thinking Sebastian is Cesario, leads Sebastian to marriage in a nearby chapel. Finally, Cesario inescapably reveals that he is Viola and Sebastian recognizes her as his sister. The Duke reciprocates Violas love offerings and proposes to her. Olivia assures Malvolio... ...e supreme thinkers and advocates for their rights as women. In a time where women were not even able to act on the stage, Shakespeare created two strong characters that challenged the very ideals of Puritanical, Elizabethan society. whole kit and boodle CitedDobson, Michael. one-twelfth Night in The Oxford Companion to Shakespeare. invigorated York Oxford University Press, 2001. Dominic, Catherine C. Twelfth Night in Shakespeare for Students. Book II. Detroit Gale, 1997.Fritze, Ronald. Historical Dictionary of Tudor England, 1485-1603. New Yor k Greenwood Press, 1991.Green, Renton. Twelfth Night Present Me As An Eunuch Female Identity in Twelfth Night. eNotes to Twelfth Night. Seattle Enotes.com LLC, October 2002. Ed. Penny Satoris. 20 February 2005 .Jones, Elizabeth. Cliffs Noted Hardbound literary Libraries. Shakespeare Library Vol. I. Traverse City Moon Beam Publications, 1990.Malcolmson, Christina. What You Will complaisant Mobility and Gender in Twelfth Night in Twelfth Night. New York St. Martins Press, 1996.Napierkowski, Marie Rose. Twelfth Night One-Page Summary. Shakespeare for Students. Vol. 0. Detroit Gale, 1998. 1 March 2005 .