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Analyse Twelfth Night de William Shakespeare (en anglais)

Publié le 17/11/2012

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Order and disorder Twelfth Night     Throughout William Shakespeare’s play Twelfth Night, many situations of conflict appear. Conflicts of different kinds, revolving around the themes of love and genre, but most specifically around the notion of identity. A whole atmosphere of disorder is created, as opposed to order. This opposition therefore becomes a way for the playwright to celebrate the virtue of balance and stability in life.     Love appears as a real source of conflict in Twelfth Night. Not so much of a conflict between characters, but much more of an inner conflict within their own self. Many of the play’s characters seem to be struggling with their love affairs. They set up strategies to reach their aspirations, but end up trapped in situations they do not have control on anymore. For example, Viola can be very close to the one she loves : Orsino, but the very same situation that enables this closeness forbids a reciprocal love. Therefore it creates a lot of disorder, which actually is the essence of the play.     There are many other examples in the play of how some characters are tricked by love. Malvolio, infatuated by love, in attempt to please Olivia, appears in front of her in the most dreadful yellow stockings, and makes a complete fool of himself. Shakespeare demonstrates that love has such a strong power on the human soul that it can lead anyone to do anything. People, once in love, are lead by their passion rather than their reason, and are not master of themselves anymore, which can be very destructive and conflicting. The playwright mocks this state of mind which consists in being blinded by love, with the character of Orsino. The lord takes great pleasure in suffering for love and in all the romant...
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« woman : Viola, herself in love with Orsino; and as if it was not enough, Malvolio and Sir Andrew are as well in love with Olivia and  both believe they have a chance.

Illyria seems to be in a total fever.

Shakespeare shows that these passions only create confusion, that one has to deal with them with a lot of measure, self-control and reason.

Therefore he truly celebrates order.     In addition to love, identity is as well a very big source of disorder and confusion in Twelfth Night. Shakespeare touches the question « Who am I? » throughout the entire play.

There can often be a gap between who we are in society and who we are in reality.

And therefore he demonstrates that when appearances do not correspond to reality, it creates confusion.     The most obvious manifestation in the play of this idea is of course Viola's disguise.

It is for her a terrible source of inner conflict.

She absolutely cannot be herself, she is totally conditioned by the role she has given herself.

Her reactions cannot be spontaneous, therefore she isn't free at all.

It is quite the same problem for Olivia.

Being of a high rank in society, she isn't supposed to woo a man, especially not throw herself at him the way she does towards Cesario when she confesses so quickly her love to him.

Her position does not allow her to do such a thing, but her feelings push her to do so, and this whole paradox causes great confusion in her.

This confusion appears specifically in the dialogue between her and Viola in act 3 scene 1 « Olivia : I prithee tell me what thou think'st of me, Viola : That you do think you are not what you are, Olivia: If I think so, I think the same of you, Viola: Then think you right: I am not what I am ». We can see through this passage that the notion of identity crisis is a central matter in the play.     Shakespeare highlights the fact that being incoherent with yourself leads to great disorder as well.

He pictures another of those inner conflicts in the character of Malvolio.

Malvolio has a false image of himself, he believes that he is much greater than he is and allows himself to despise everybody.

But this can only lead to great deception and unhappiness.

In opposition to him, Shakespeare introduces happy characters : Sir Toby and Maria, who are actually true to themselves.

They seem to be enjoying themselves a lot, as they aren't stuck in any disguise or trying to appear as something else than what they are.

Opposing these two people and their joy of life to the rest of the characters and their constant struggle is a great way for the playwright to celebrate once again well equilibrated minds and the virtue of order.     Thus the play Twelfth Night, depicting terrible situations of confusion, truly is a celebration of order, since it. »

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