Twelfth Night

Twelfth Night is a romantic comedy about mistaken identity, unrequited love, and gender disguise. When Viola is shipwrecked and disguises herself as a man, she becomes entangled in a love triangle that explores themes of identity, desire, and social order.

• 1Viola is shipwrecked in Illyria and disguises herself as a man named Cesario
• 2Duke Orsino employs Cesario to woo Olivia on his behalf
• 3Olivia falls in love with Cesario, not knowing 'he' is actually Viola
• 4Viola has fallen in love with Orsino but cannot reveal her true identity
• 5Sebastian, Viola's twin brother, arrives and causes confusion due to their identical appearance
• 6Olivia marries Sebastian thinking he's Cesario; Orsino realizes his love for Viola

• •Appearance versus reality
• •Love and desire in various forms
• •Gender roles and identity
• •Madness and folly
• •Social class and ambition
• •Deception and disguise

• Viola: The shipwrecked heroine who disguises herself as Cesario
• Orsino: The lovesick Duke pursuing Olivia
• Olivia: The countess in mourning who falls for Cesario
• Sebastian: Viola's twin brother
• Malvolio: Olivia's steward who is tricked and humiliated
• Sir Toby Belch: Olivia's rowdy uncle who leads the trick on Malvolio

• Written around 1601-1602, titled after the Twelfth Night holiday feast
• Cross-dressing was a common theatrical device in Shakespeare's time
• Male actors played all female roles on the Elizabethan stage
• Explores Elizabethan ideas about gender, class, and order
• Set in Illyria, a fantastical place allowing for social exploration

• Analyze how Shakespeare uses disguise to explore gender roles
• Examine the different types of love presented in the play
• Discuss the theme of appearance versus reality through mistaken identity
• Consider the treatment of Malvolio and whether it's comic or cruel
• Explore how the play challenges social conventions