Twelfth Night Comedy in Other Writings
Essay Preview: Twelfth Night Comedy in Other Writings
Report this essay
Twelfth Night Comedy in Other Writings
While Great Expectations and Gullivers Travels were not written as comedy, humor is seen in them. The comedy in Shakespeares Twelfth Night can be related to the comedy in those writings, although Shakespeare used a variety of comedic techniques, not used in either Great Expectations or Gullivers Travels. The comedy in Twelfth Night varies greatly from the comedy in Great Expectations and Gullivers Travels at times. Irony is a common comedic element seen in all three works. Jonathan Swifts Gullivers Travels is commonly known as a satire, therefore it uses improbable irony as a tool. The misfortune, ridiculousness and contradict of Gullivers adventures is funny. For instance, he, an almighty human, was tied down and restrained by people the size of his finger. In Twelfth Night irony is also used. For example, Olivia fell in love with the woman, viola, dressed as a man, Cesario, who was to woo Olivia, for the duke. It is an unexpected, contradicting turn, mostly because of the couples gender, but also because of the going-ons during which it happened. In the following Viola finds out of Olivias love:
“Viola: I left no ring with her. What means this lady?
Fortune forbid my outside have not charmed her!
She made good view of me, indeed so much
That sure methought her eyes had lost her tongue,
For she did speak in starts distractedly.
She loves me, sure! The cunning of her passion
Invites me in this churlish messenger.”
(Shakespeare, Act 2, Scene 2, Lines 15 and 20)
The love triangle Shakespeare uses to twist the plot is ironic. In Great Expectations is the main comedic tool, although it is not a satire. It is ironic how Estella, who was out to break Pips heart at the beginning, has her own heart broken and seems to reconcile with him in the end, appearing to intend to never again part,
“I took her hand in mine, and we went out of the ruined place; and as the morning mists had risen long ago when I first left the forge, so the evening mists were rising now, and in all the broad expanse of tranquil light they showed to me, I saw no shadow of another parting form her.” (Dickens, 516)
Because common aspects from Shakespeares writing can be seen in Great Expectations and Gullivers Travels, and similar comedic techniques were used in the writings, the works comedy can be compared and contrasted with the play, Twelfth Night.
Twelfth Night was an excellent play by William Shakespeare. Although there are many opinions about the plays nature, it is commonly seen as an influential comedy. In the play, two twins are shipwrecked on the coast of an ideal country, like Disneyland, called Illyria.
They are separated, neither knowing the other is alive. The female, Viola, pretends to be a male page and works for the duke Orsino. Her job is to woo the lady he likes, Olivia. Viola is wooing for Orsino, pretending to be Cesario, and Olivia falls in love with her! Meanwhile, a man called Antonio is helping her twin, Sebastian. In the end Viola and Sebastian meet, the Duke marries Viola, and Sebastian marries Olivia. There are many comedic aspects of this play, one is Marias letter. Maria, a helper of Olivia, writes a letter to trick Malvolio into making a fool of himself by making him think Olivia likes him. Marias letter says:
“If this fall into thy hand, revolve. In my stars I am above thee, but be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon em. Thy Fates open their hands. Let thy blood and spirit embrace them. And, to inure thyself to what thou art like to be, cast thy humble slough and appear fresh. Be opposite with a kinsman, surly with servants. Let thy tongue tang arguments of state. Put thyself into they trick of singularity. She thus advises thee that sighs for thee. Remember who commanded thy yellow stockings and wished to see thee ever cross-gartered. I say, remember. Go to, thou art made, if thou desirst to be so; if not, let me see thee a steward still, the fellow of servants, and not worthy to touch Fortunes fingers. Farewell. She that alter services with thee,
The Fortunate Unhappy”
(Shakespeare, Act 2, Scene 5, Lines 125-140)
While irony can be seen in Twelfth Night, many other types are used. In this play, Shakespeare is known for using almost every comedy type. He uses crude humor, represented in Maria, almost portrayed as a whore. He sometimes uses this humor invoking, sexuality and drunkenness. Another common humor technique used by Shakespeare was wit. In Twelfth Night he uses wit. Usually wit helps develop the character and help you get a sense for what part they act in the play. Wit is used as comic relief by Maria here:
“Maria: Now, sir, thought is free. I pray you, bring your hand to the buttery-bar and let it drink.
Sir Andrew: Wherefore, sweetheart? Whats your metaphor?
Maria: Its dry, sir.
Sir Andrew: Why, I think so. I am not such an ass, but I can keep my hand dry. But whats your jest?
Maria: A dry jest, sir.
Sir Andrew: Are you full of them?
Maria: Ay, sir, I have them at my fingers ends. Marry, now I let go your hand, I am barren.”
(Shakespeare, Act 1, Scene 3, Lines 55-70)
These forms of comedy are very different then the ones used in Great Expectations and Gullivers Travels. Through all these forms of comedy, however, Shakespeare infers that humans are quite selfish. It occasionally portrays the human race as idiots, but mostly shows us as witty, conniving things out for the good of ourselves only. All Viola cares about is protecting herself as a male and not being discovered, while Antonio is worried about his money, Orsino his personal happiness, and Olivia her grief. None of them have concern for others. While Antonio does lend his money to Sebastian, he quickly wants it back. Although Viola reveals herself in the end, only under safety, Orsino simply changes his taste, and Olivia decides not to be sad. Certainly, Twelfth Night is a great comedy that truly reveals