Flashcards on *Twelfth Night*

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Problematic to call *Twelfth Night* a 'comedy of errors'

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- Shakespeare already wrote a play literally called *The Comedy of Errors* - The term is too reductive and doesn't capture the play's complexity - Other specific comedy types exist: comedy of humors (Jonson), comedy of manners (Restoration), sentimental comedy, romantic comedy - Every text changes the genre it belongs to, making genres less specific over time - Critics disagree: some call it romance, festive comedy, or tragicomedy

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Meaning of 'everything was comic in English theater'

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- English theater began with mystery/miracle plays and morality plays - Mystery plays: Biblical stories told for common understanding (like stained glass) - Even tragic moments (crucifixion) were followed by comic relief - The resurrection and harrowing of hell became comic material - The Western tradition follows 'Phoenix Coupa' - the fortunate fall - Comedy was the native English tradition; tragedy came later via Roman influences (Seneca)

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First recorded performance of *Twelfth Night*

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- **Date**: February 2nd, 1602 (Candlemas) - **Observer**: John Manning - **Significance**: This date reminded audiences of the imminence of Lent - **Timing**: End of Christmastide (officially ends January 6th - Twelfth Night/Epiphany) - **Epiphany**: Revelation of Christ's physical body to the Magi

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Sir Toby embodies the festive/carnivalesque tradition.

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**Philosophy**: "Cares an enemy to life" **Time inversion**: Goes to bed after midnight = getting up early **False scholarship**: Drinking and eating = true learning **"Thou art a scholar"** = ironic praise for hedonism **Personification**: of the world turned upside down, avoiding care **Festival embodiment**: Represents Lord of Misrule figure

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Maria calls Malvolio "a kind of Puritan" but then takes it back.

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**Direct quote**: "The devil a Puritan that he is, or anything constantly, but a time-pleaser" **Meaning**: He's not consistently anything - just an opportunist **Characteristics**: Social climber, wet blanket on joy, figure of temperance/lent **"Time-server and pleaser"**: Changes behavior to advance socially **"Like a Puritan"**: Looks and acts like one but isn't sincere **Historical note**: Some critics connect "Malvolio's revenge" to Cromwell's rise

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Feste plays a significant role in the dramatic structure.

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**Chorus function**: Comments on action, then leaves **Marginal character**: Outside main action, moves between houses **"I do not wear motley in my brain"**: Appearance vs. intelligence **Link between play and audience**: Traditional clown role **Absent from gulling**: Doesn't participate in Malvolio's humiliation until the end **Final song**: "For the rain, it raineth every day" - returns audience to reality **Wisdom**: Understands people well to create his observations

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Feste has a personal vendetta against Malvolio.

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**Initial insult**: Malvolio calls Feste "a barren rascal" with "no more brain than a stone" **"Unless you laugh and minister occasion to him, he is gagged"**: Suggests Feste isn't naturally funny **Olivia's defense**: "Oh, you are sick of self-love, Malvolio" - protecting her fool **Feste remembers**: References this insult later as Sir Topaz **Personal motivation**: Makes the gulling personal, not just communal sport

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Love is presented as textual/performative in the Olivia-Cesario scene.

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**Textual language**: doctrine, text, chapter, copy, speech, inventory **Cesario's "speech"**: Memorized text to deliver to Olivia.

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Petrarchan elements in the Olivia-Cesario exchange

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- "Cruel lady": "lady you are the cruelest she alive" - "Red and white beauty": Standard Petrarchan coloring - "Leave the world no copy": Have children (double meaning: children/text) - "Blazon": Olivia's inventory of her features parodies this form - "Oxymorons": "deadly life" - typical Petrarchan conceits - "Unattainable lady": Won't be seen, keeps gates closed - "Echo reference": "Babbling gossip of the air cry out Olivia"

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Homoerotic tensions in *Twelfth Night*

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- "Orsino sends Cesario": Because "he" looks like a woman - "Sebastian a woman's part": Double meaning (anatomy/theatrical role) - "Antonio's love for Sebastian": Barely hidden homosexual attraction - "Olivia falls for 'boy'": Attraction to feminine qualities in masculine form - "Orsino's attraction to Cesario": Falls in love with the "boy" first - "Woman winning woman": "Only a woman can win a woman like Olivia for a man"