Essays on Twelfth Night

1601–1602, by William Shakespeare

Romantic comedy

The play centres on the twins Viola and Sebastian, who are separated in a shipwreck. Viola (who is disguised as Cesario) falls in love with the Duke Orsino, who in turn is in love with Countess Olivia. Upon meeting Viola, Countess Olivia falls in love with her thinking she is a man.

Twelfth Night's central theme is love, including romantic, platonic, and familial love. Other themes include gender and sexuality, ambition, appearance and reality, disguise and deception, madness, etc.

The play, Twelfth Night, shows the mastery of William Shakespeare in using witty and festive language. The play also shows its language becoming funny and humorous as well as comic and romantic according to the situation and context. At times, Shakespeare has resorted to the use of puns, metaphors, and excessive use of similes that is suitable for prose and verse which reflects the mood of the characters as well as the tone of the play.

Viola, Sebastian, Duke Orsino, Olivia, Malvolio, Maria, Sir Toby Belch, Sir Andrew Aguecheek, Feste, Fabian, Antonio, Valentine and Curio, A Servant of Olivia, A Sea Captain

The original source appears to have been the story Apollonius and Silla in Barnabe Riche’s Riche His Farewell to Military Profession (1581), based in turn on a number of Continental versions that included an Italian comedy called Gl’ingannati (1531; “The Deceived”), published anonymously, and a story in Matteo Bandello’s Novelle (1554–73).

The play consistently ranks among the greatest plays ever written and has been dubbed as "The Perfect Comedy". It has inspired adaptations and reimaginings for centuries.

“Be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and others have greatness thrust upon them.”
“Some are born great, others achieve greatness.”
“Better a witty fool, than a foolish wit.”
“Journeys end in lovers meeting.”