Function of Disguise in Twelfth Night by William...

Function of Disguise in Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare William Shakespeares Twelfth Night is a play based around disguise in the form of deception and becoming someone different. In Twelfth Night, disguise takes many different shapes from physical disguise to mental disguise. Disguise is one of the main topics of the play and helps to create the plot. It brings in confusion and comedy as well as the darker and sadder side of the play which is disguised as fun and happiness. Disguise is evident from the very beginning of the play. A supposedly noble Duke Orsino is suffering due to his unrequited love for the Lady Olivia. The Lady Olivia, however, is also suffering due to the recent deaths of†¦show more content†¦This is not the only way in which disguise is used in Twelfth Night, it is also used to create comedy. The Lady Olivias uncle Sir Toby Belch is always being foolish with his friends: Sir Andrew Aguecheek and Maria, the maid. Malvolio, Olivias steward is forever telling them to stop fooling about and Toby, Andrew and Ma ria take their revenge by playing a trick on him. Maria disguises her handwriting as Olivias as their handwriting is very similar: I can write very like my Lady your niece, on a forgotten matter we can hardly make distinction of our hands. She writes a counterfeit letter to Malvolio stating that Olivia is in love with him when of course she is not. The letter also says that to impress Olivia Malvolio should adorn yellow, cross-gartered stockings which Olivia detests. Malvolio follows the letters advice much to Maria, Toby and Andrews delight and dresses in the yellow stockings. Olivia, unaware of what is going on thinks Malvolio is going mad: Why this is very midsummer madness This trick would not have worked if the letter had not been disguised as Olivias. Disguise also helps to create a further sense of comedy as the audience knows things about disguise that the characters do not.Show MoreRelatedThe Function of Disguise in Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare889 Words   |  4 PagesThe Function of Disguise in Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare William Shakespeares play, Twelfth Night is based around disguise and deception, both mental and physical. The deception leads to a lot of misunderstanding and subsequently, a lot of humour. The tale begins in Illyria with the Duke Orsino, who is suffering due to his unrequited love for the Lady Olivia. The Lady is also suffering from the recent loss of her brother and father, and currently wants nothingRead MoreEssay on Disguises and Mistaken Identity in Twelfth Night1372 Words   |  6 PagesMistaken identity and disguise are important aspects of comedy in Twelfth Night that stand at the forefront of the play’s comedy. 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