Shakespeare's ability to portray the universal nature of the human condition is at its most accessible in Twelfth Night. The compelling prominence of love entertains and engages the audience because of its complex and dynamic nature. The interpersonal relationships in the context of social hierarchies are explored through the disguise motif, the folly of ambition and love as a cause of suffering. The complications that arise when social norms are subverted, lead to the characters facing adversity, which offers insight into human behaviour.
Shakespeare explores the timelessness of love through the exploration of romantic relationships between characters of different social statuses, ranging from Duke Orsino to Olivia’s servant Malvolio. Love
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Malvolio, a Puritan, is in constant pursuit of greater authority and a higher status in the social hierarchy of Illyria. He fantasises about being Olivia’s husband, even though he is not in love with her, but knows that the man she marries will hold power. In Malvolio’s soliloquy, the rhetorical exclamation ‘To be Count Malvolio!’, elucidates that Malvolio’s intentions are purely for the means of authority, and explores his excessive self obsession and ambition to advance in the social class. As the play progresses, Malvolio’s dignity becomes his downfall as he is manipulated by a forged love letter from Maria pretending to be Olivia. Believing the letter is real, Malvolio wears attire that is contrasting to his usual serious demeanor in the form of ‘yellow stockings’. This imagery reveals the ridiculous extremes Malvolio will go to, in order to pursue his aspirations, and the dramatic irony adds to the comedic nature of Malvolio’s foolish behaviour. As a consequence of his humiliation, Malvolio’s vanity becomes his weakness and his reputation compromised, which all but concludes his hopes for
William Shakespeare’ romantic tragedy Romeo & Juliet, a play written during the period of 1594-1595, contains many themes enabling it to be relevant to audiences today. This is because human nature has remained constant since that period. This play is an Elizabethan misfortune set in the 13th century England, which conveys the story of two young “star-crossed” lovers who cannot be together as their families are embroiled in a feud. In Romeo & Juliet, Shakespeare uses this futility to symbolize the themes of the play such as the individual against the society and also the meaning of gender during these times and how it affected the play as a whole. These themes in Romeo & Juliet make the audience aware that the play does not have a use by date.
Though some may simply know romantic love as an intense bond between individuals devoted to one another, its effects in reality are not always as beautiful as the concept. Particularly when it is frowned upon by society and the people involved also swim against the current, the consequences of this type of love can be damaging to others outside the romance. In William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the actions of the young lovers in their desire to be together not only steer the course of their lives, but also those of their friends, families, and other citizens in the city. The unfortunate series of events following Romeo and Juliet’s choice to reach beyond traditional gender roles, a standard courtship, and their established social networks reveal the importance of complying with these norms. By highlighting the chaos in Verona on the path to Romeo and Juliet’s eventual demise, Shakespeare suggests that intense romantic love that threatens relationships and expectations in the established social order leads to tragedy.
In William Shakespeare’s (1564-1616) attempt to explore themes of love, friendship and loyalty in his plays, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1600) and King Lear (1603-1606), there is distinct and constant portrayal of these themes classified of inconsistencies. It is crucial to understand that the historical context of Shakespeare’s writing is important in grasping a true understanding of the inconsistencies that exists in love, friendship and loyalty. Writing during the time of the renaissance, Shakespeare’s critical writing of such themes is of great importance in understanding the new socio-political framework of the early modern English times. Shakespeare therefore presents a new kind of paradigm for human relations unearthing past
The ability to maintain the purity of love is a difficult idea when addressed through the love of allies, family, or lovers. No other work of William Shakespeare more accurately conveys this concept than Romeo and Juliet, a tragedy with numerous types of love and examples of impurities. Through the love of family and the love of allies, the reader sees how love is not respected in its own purity; instead, it is mixed with selfish purposes, thereby creating conflict. Although Romeo and Juliet manage to isolate their romantic love from their environment, they are ultimately unable to overcome its corruption.
Malvolio?s conceitedness was broken and then he sees that he did not truly love Olivia, but was only flattered that he had been loved by someone so beautiful and young.
The meaningful term “love” can be applied to differing relationships in Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello. In this essay let us examine under a microscope the “love” that we find throughout the play.
He wants to rise out of his social class through the love of Olivia. Knowing this, Maria forges a letter that seems to offer hope to Malvolio’s ambitions. As soon as he finds Maria’s forged letter, he completely goes against his Puritan philosophy and undergoes his first transformation through self-delusion. He starts strolling around in yellow stockings and cross garters, thinking that he will please Olivia and get what he has always wanted. Malvolio looks ridiculous in these scenes, adding humour and the element of comedy to the play. Essentially, he lets his ambitions overcome his senses and does foolish things in order to get the attention of Olivia, which entertains the
Love can not hide behind a mask forever in the end truth will prevail. In the play Twelfth Night written by William Shakespeare there are many circumstances where there are misinterpretations of love in various romantic relationships. There are many instances where characters where used disguises were used to create plot development. In Shakespeare play trickery was used to create plot development. Mistaken identity was used to create a complicated love triangle. Shakespeare makes use of different binding elements to cause conflict between his characters to gain conflict from the audience.
Unlike the other characters in Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night", Viola's feelings of love are genuine. She is not mistaken about Orsino's true nature and loves him for who he really is, while the other characters in the play seem to be in love with an illusion. Viola's love for Orsino does not alter during the play, nor is it transferred to another person.
In act 4 of Twelfth Night, Shakespeare continuously keeps show us that love is risky and is it there love you like or there appearance. In act 4 scene 1 sir Andrews comes in and thinks Sebastian is cesario and decides to fight him. As they were fighting Olivia comes in and stops the fight. Olivia is thinking Sebastian is cesario and asks him to run away with her. Shakespeare here is showing why love is risky.
Malvolio, head steward of Olivia’s household is an arrogant and proud man, who evokes distaste but also pity from the audience. Maria and company craft a masterful trap into which Malvolio walks right into; they trick him into believing that the lady Olivia loves him and wishes him to prove his love for her through a series of actions. Not only does he not doubt this for a second, but he eagerly agrees to fulfill all of the embarrassing things he has been set up to do: “I do not now fool/ myself, to let my imagination jade me; for every reason/ excites to this, that my lady loves me” [5.2.153-155]. Malvolio’s declaration confirms that he is completely blinded by the thought of him being a count and imagining himself bossing servants around and being showered with wealth that he
The word love can mean many things. Love can be an object, emotion, and a life. However, love could lead to a loss of power, prosperity, and status. In the literary work “Romeo and Juliet” written by William Shakespeare, the readers are introduced to a tragic love story. In this play, readers are also shown the different perspectives of love and the many downfalls it could lead to. The central theme of this work is the recklessness of love. The theme is significant because it is shown throughout the whole story and it’s a strong force that takes place of all the other emotions and values. In this play, Shakespeare uses characters to present different aspects of love. In addition, Nurse, Mercutio, and Romeo completely show what actual love is and what it is like to lose it due to their experiences.
Many people, even in the present society, cherish themselves more than anything else. "Twelfth Night" addresses the issue of self-love and how it affects people lives. Malvolio is the perfect example of self-love. Some Might even say that Malvolio is conceited. He considers himself to be a nice looking and decent man. Malvolio believes that women would love to be with him. He gets a kick out of the chance to seeing things going him way, and he misleads himself just to suit his point of view toward the circumstance. For instance, in the play he twists Olivia 's words around to influence it to seem like she respects his yellow cross-gartered leggings, when she truly hates them. Both Sir Toby and Olivia hint at self-love however it isn 't as
Malvolio is a social climber, he feels that if Olivia would love him his status would be higher. But because of
the Sea Captain was not mentioned a lot, but they had a very deep bond