Twelfth Night Essay Question

Answer one of the following:

I
Twelfth Night is January 6, the Feast of the Epiphany or the end of Christmas festivities in Elizabethan England. The play’s alternate title, What You Will is a reference to the decadent parties that were thrown where partygoers were allowed to do “what [they] will.” Puritanical law was ignored and revelry in the festivities encouraged. Drunkenness, self-indulgent behavior, and a general perversion of social norms were the norm.

Given the background of the play, observe closely the role of Malvolio as a symbol of puritanical Christian law through the five acts. In this vein, pay particular attention to both his changing moods and how he is treated by the other characters.

or

II
Love undoubtedly is one of the major themes of Twelfth Night. However, none of the relationships that develop over the course of this play can be considered normal. Evaluate each of the major relationships in terms of ‘genuine’ love.

or

III
A famous quote from Hamlet is ‘frailty thy name is woman.’ In Twelfth Night, Viola says ‘Alas, our frailty is the cause, not we.’ Examine the female characters in the play and their subversion of expected female roles in Elizabethan society.

or

IV
A primary theme of Twelfth Night is mistaken identity. Observe how identity (whether true or as a disguise) is defined by the clothes, speech, and behavior of the characters in the play.