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Shakespeare
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Twelfth Night

Timeline

 

  • 1564 Shakespeare was born in Stratford-on-Avon, a small market town.

  • His father was a successful businessman but later had financial difficulties, possibly due to his Catholic faith.

  • Shakespeare is assumed to have attended Stratford grammar school.

  • 1582 He married an older woman, Anne Hathaway and fathered children.

  • Early 1590's He wrote romantic comedies.

  • 1592 He was well known in London as an actor and playwright.

  • 1594 He was a leading member of The Lord Chamberlain's Men/ King's Men acting company.

  • In the later 1590's he focused on historical plays.

  • 1599 He was performing at the Globe.

  • 1596 He experienced the death of his. son Hamlet

  •  1601 Twelfth Night was written

  • 1601-1611 He focused on tragedies and dark comedies

  • 1611 Death of Shakespeare

(William Shakespeare, 718-722)

 

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          Twelfth Night is a dark romantic comedy that centers on disguises, tricks, foolery, and love. It begins in the court of Orsino, Duke of Illyria, whom we find out is in love with Olivia. Olivia is mourning the death of her brother and has sworn off men. Meanwhile, a shipwreck has occurred, and Viola comes to Illyria believing her twin brother has died in the wreck.

          Viola disguises herself as Cesario in order to win the heart of Orsino. Yet in her elaborate plot, Olivia falls in love with her. Meanwhile, Toby, Maria, and Sir Andrew devise a plot against Malvolio (ill-will). They trick him into believing Olivia is in love with him. They get him to change his behavior and convince Olivia that he has gone mad. Feste, the fool, engages with the various characters and comically reveal each of their foolishness. In the end, all ends well with the return of Viola's twin brother who marries Olivia. Viola marries Orsino, and Malvolio is made into the fool. 

           Twelfth night refers to the time of carnival, and the play reflects the carnival spirit in it tricks, disguises, revelry, laughter, and foolishness (Shakespeare, 739-803).

Works Cited

Shakespeare, William. Twelfth Night.Greenblatt et al., eds. "The Norton Anthology of EnglishLiterature", Volume B. Tenth Edition, Norton, 2018. Pgs. 739- 803.

 

William Shakespeare. Greenblatt et al., eds. "The Norton Anthology of EnglishLiterature", Volume B. Tenth Edition, Norton, 2018. Pgs. 718-722.

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