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How Does Shakespeare Present The Nature Of Love In Twelfth Night

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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 …show more content…

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

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