#twelfthnight

Twelfth Night

Twelfth Night, or What You Will is a romantic comedy by William Shakespeare (l. c. 1564-1616), written between 1600 and 1601 and first performed on 2 February 1602. As suggested by the title's allusion to Twelfth Night – the night before the Epiphany celebrations – it is considered one of Shakespeare's most festive plays, dealing with themes of love, merriment, and gender.

Sources & Themes

Probably written sometime between 1600 and 1601, Twelfth Night was first performed at the Middle Temple of London on 2 February 1602 at Candlemas. The play, as scholar David Bevington observes, is perhaps the most festive of Shakespeare's comedies, conveying feelings of "Saturnalian release and the carnival pursuit of love and mirth" (184). Indeed, the play's very title conjures up images of festivity, as Twelfth Night – 6 January, the Feast of Epiphany – traditionally marks the end of the Christmas celebrations. During the Elizabethan period, the twelve days of Christmas were full of revelry, as noble households would sponsor banquets, masked balls, performances of plays, and many other activities. Much as had been the case with the holiday's pagan precursor, the Roman Saturnalia, Twelfth Night saw many of the "stern rigors of a rule-bound society" temporarily give way to a spirit of "gift giving, sensual indulgence, and satirical hostility to those who would curb merriment" (Bevington, 184). This sentiment is embodied by Sir Toby Belch's famous line: "Dost thou think, because thou art virtuous, there shall be no more cakes and ale?"

Aside from the holiday itself, Shakespeare drew inspiration from several sources. One of the most significant was the tale 'Apollonius and Silla' from a 1581 collection of stories by Barnabe Riche. Riche's story has much in common with the plot of Twelfth Night – from a shipwrecked woman disguising herself as a man to a case of mistaken identity caused by a twin brother. However, while Riche's original story is a cautionary tale warning against giving in to reckless infatuation, Shakespeare keeps his play more light-hearted, minimizing the harm done to the characters while retaining the theme of the irrationality of love. Shakespeare also drew heavily from the 1531 Italian play Gl'ingannati ("The Deceived Ones"), from which he found the blueprints for many of the characters in the comedic subplot including that of Malvolio, who is introduced in the Italian play as 'Malevolti' ('evil-faced'). The plot point dealing with the counterfeit letter, however, seems to be Shakespeare's original idea.

Of the themes explored in Twelfth Night, one of the more obvious is that of love and its irrationality. Both Duke Orsino and Lady Olivia begin the play too bogged down by love to engage with life's pleasures; Orsino, pining for Olivia's affections, refuses to go hunting, while Olivia, grieving for her dead brother, shuts herself off from the world. It is only through the charming and determined Viola that they are taught to experience love in a way that connects them to the world. Gender is another important theme, most clearly expressed in Viola's decision to disguise herself as a man named Cesario (to add another layer to this theme, it is worth remembering that the first actor to play Viola would have been a boy). Elements of same-sex love are also present: Olivia falls in love (albeit unknowingly) with the female Viola, while Antonio's attachment to Sebastian has often been viewed through a romantic lens. While gender roles and homosexuality were not understood in Shakespeare's time in the same way they are today, these themes are certainly worth considering when studying the play.

Lady Olivia in Mourning

Charles Robert Leslie (Public Domain)

GENTILE DA FABRIANO

Adoration of the Magi

As the Epiphany sun rises and the Twelfth Night becomes a memory, may the spirit of these festive days illuminate your path. Wishing you a serene conclusion to the holiday season, marked by reflections on joyous moments and the anticipation of new beginnings. May the days ahead be filled with hope, love, and the promise of a bright future. Happy post-Twelfth Night and Epiphany morning!

Reposted from @classicalharlem #MALVOLIO is an irreverent comedy and a sequel to #TWELFTHNIGHT.  It’s wartime. A lowborn steward, Malvolio, has risen to the rank of general.  He is determined to seek vengeance on a cast of characters who tormented him twenty years earlier.  Malvolio encounters Volina, the daughter of Duke Orsino and Duchess Viola.  Dismayed by the apathy of her fellow nobles, Volina tries to pass as male to join the war effort.  When she falls in love with him, Malvolio is sure her ardent displays of unbridled passion and awkward love letters must be a trick.  How do we get past each other’s defenses?  Can the right kind of love heal all wounds? MALVOLIO explores the difference between revenge and redemption.

#BlackGirlTheaterGeeks #Theater #Shakespeare #TheaterLovers

Stepping into Shakespeare - Live in London! In our second podcast series we will present the play Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare.

Join us for a ‘A Night in Illyria’ with music, merriment, and more on Saturday May 27th at 7.30pm in London, England. Join us for this evening of Shakespeare featuring the play Twelfth Night. The play will also be recorded live as part of the ‘Stepping into Shakespeare Podcast’ also featuring interviews with Shakepearean experts.

More info here: