Twelfth Night

Twelfth Night centers on a blurred depiction of gender, as Viola disguises herself as a man. As head of her household, Olivia also takes on a traditionally male role. Look at how Shakespeare talks about and treats gender throughout the play. What ultimate message about gender and gender roles does he make?

Examine the character of Feste the Fool. What purpose do he and his witty exchanges serve in the play? What does his presence add to the plot?

Analyze the relationship between Viola/Cesario and Orsino. Is it merely platonic (or at least one-sided romantic love) until Viola reveals herself as a woman, or are the seeds of their pairing planted earlier?

What purpose does Malvolio serve in the play? Examine his traits as a character. Is the prank on him with Maria’s letter warranted? What message does it send?

Olivia and Viola have similar names, both mourn their brothers, and are both loved by Orsino at some point in the play. Compare and contrast Viola and Olivia as characters. How are the two similar, and how are they different? What does each reveal about the other?

Look at the central comic characters in Twelfth Night: Sir Toby, Sir Andrew, Feste, Fabian, Maria, and (as the object of their trickery), Malvolio. Given that they’re largely divorced from the central plot about Viola/Orsino/Olivia, what is their purpose in the play? How do their storylines intertwine with and strengthen the central plot?

Twelfth Night is a Shakespearean comedy that ends with a romantic triangle transformed into two pairs. Does Twelfth Night actually have a happy ending? Why or why not?

Trace Olivia’s arc as a character, as she goes from melancholy and in mourning to happy and married to Sebastian. Is her happy fate just a product of circumstance, or does Olivia change or develop as a character over the course of the play?