Page 1: Basic Information (Please include sources)

1. Title of Work, date of first publication, edition of your book, analysis of “As You Will” as an

alternative title, analysis of “Twelfth Night” as a title.

Title: Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare

Date of first publication: 1623 (in the First Folio)

Edition: Pelican Shakespeare edition (2000)

“As You Will:” Although no one is really sure why this play has an alternate title (it is the only one

of Shakespeare’s plays to do so), there are several different interpretations for “As You Will.”

Firstly, it connotes the jovial festivity of the play. The story line itself is whimsical and humorous

and the title suggests that there is no “heaviness.” Along with this, Shakespeare may also have been

titling the play in such a way that involves the audience collectively. The audience is the “you” and

so Shakespeare is saying that this comedy was written solely for the enjoyment of the audience and

the events are really up to the viewers. The third, and most literal, analysis of this title is that

Shakespeare was implying that the title was “what you will,” in other words, the name is unimportant

and the audience can call it however they wish. All of these support the idea that this play was by no

means meant to be a grave and serious production.

“Twelfth Night:” This is most commonly believed to be a reference to the festival of Epiphany

where everything was believed to be “turned upside down.” This certainly makes sense because

nothing in Twelfth Night is as it should be. The maid is sassy, Olivia falls in love with Viola, Viola

falls in love with a man who believes her name is Cesario, and Sebastian and Viola both believe the

other to be deceased. The only ones who know the truth are the audience and this irony provides

much of the humor of the play because everything that could go wrong, has. What further

compounds the humorous confusion of the play is that male actors were used to portray women, and

so Viola’s character is in fact a man, pretending to be a woman, pretending to be a man. (SparkNotes)

Shakespeare, William, and Jonathan V. Crewe. Twelfth Night, Or, What You Will. New York:

Penguin, 2000. Print.

SparkNotes Editors. “SparkNote on Twelfth Night.” SparkNotes.com. SparkNotes LLC. 2003. Web. 17 Jan. 2012.

2. Elements of comedy evident

Pun- Act One, Scene Five: The fool talking with Olivia and twisting all her words.

Deflation-Act Three, Scene Four: Malvolio being thought to be a madman and being bound and

placed in a dark room.

Knaves and Fools- Act Two, Scene Five: Malvolio is tricked that Olivia loves him and to signal to

her that he loves her, he is to smile constantly and dress in yellow stockings with his garters crossed.

Dramatic Irony-Act Three Scene Four: Antonio confuses Cersario/ Viola for Sebastian and tries to

protect her from the fencing match. He is caught by the guards and is arrested.

Act Four, Scene One: The fool and Olivia confuse Sebastian for Cersario/Viola and confesses

her love to him.

3. According to Aristotle, what makes this a comedy? How is it different from a tragedy?

Aristotle claimed that comedies were for thinkers and tragedies were for the more emotionally

driven. Twelfth Night is one of Shakespeare’s classic comedies. It fits into Aristotle’s definition with

the heavy use of wit and word play in its dialogue, especially from the characters of Sir Toby, Sir

Andrew, and Feste. It differs from a tragedy in its emotional cycle. Twelfth Night is relatively static

in emotion, while a play such as Hamlet has more dynamic characters and emotions.

4. The Four Humours - what are the characteristics

The now-debunked theory of humoralism sought to characterize temperaments and ailments based

on an excess or deficiency in one of four bodily fluids. The four-humor system was developed by

Hippocrates and pervaded until the beginning of medical research in the late middle ages. The

humors are blood, yellow bile, black bile, and phlegm.

Blood is associated with the season of spring, the element air, and the liver. Its temperament

is “sanguine,” which is characterized by sociability, impulsivity, and pleasure-seeking. The faces of

sanguine people may appear florid.

Yellow bile is associated with the season of summer, the element fire, and the spleen. People with an

excess of yellow bile are “choleric,” and are generally assertive, charismatic, and dominating. They

may swing to extremes of mood or organization.

Black bile is associated with the season of autumn, the element of earth, and the gall

bladder. “Melancholic” people tend to be thoughtful, introverted, and creative, but may tend towards

moroseness or self-absorption.

Phlegm is associated with the season of winter, the element water, and the brain/lungs. “Phlegmatic”

people tend to be relaxed, lacking passionate extremes of emotion. They are self-confident and kind,

but may be passive-aggressive or unwilling to change. They are curious and rational.

5. Plot summary of each act. Highlight the characters’ names.

The play begins with Duke Orsino, ruler of Illyria, lamenting the fact that he cannot speak with

nor have contact with the woman he madly loves, Lady Olivia. Olivia’s brother has recently died

and she refuses to marry anyone for seven years. As Orsino laments, the Captain has saved Viola

from a shipwreck off of the Illyrian coast. Having traveled on the ship with her brother who

cannot be found at the moment, Viola is concerned that he has died in the accident. While the

Captain informs Viola about Orsino and Olivia, she expresses a desire to serve in Olivia’s court

and escape from the world in this manner. The Captain does not believe that Olivia will accept

Viola’s service and as a result she takes on the identity of “Cesario”, a favorite male servant of

Orsino. Olivia’s uncle, Sir Toby Belch, is introduced with Maria and Sir Andrew. Sir Toby and

Sir Andrew are consistently associated with his drinking habits, by which Olivia is sometimes

bothered. Toby believes that Andrew would be a perfect match, claiming his wealth and

accomplishment, but Maria still views him as a drunk when they meet. In attempts to win back

Olivia’s love, Orsino sends Cesario to Olivia with messages of his love. Throughout her brief

time at Orsino’s, Viola (Cesario) has fallen for the Duke. When Cesario arrives at Olivia’s, she

originally does not wish to see him, but because Cesario is persistent and “handsome” she agrees

and is instantly enchanted by his presence, not knowing “he” is actually Viola. Cesario returns

with unfortunate news for Orsino as Viola has rejected his pleas for love.

Act II

This act introduces Antonio and Sebastian, Viola’s brother who thinks she has drowned. Antonio

saved Sebastian from the shipwreck and the two became friends (so much so that when

Sebastian travels into Orsino’s court, Antonio is willing to accept the danger of facing the

enemies he has there). Malvolio succeeds in catching Cesario to give him the ring he “left.” In

reality, Olivia is using this as a sign for him to return. While Olivia attempts to figure out

this “love triangle”, Sir Toby and Andrew are acting foolishly and drinking. Malvolio scolds the

men and Maria creates a plan to get back at Malvolio for being no fun. Cesario and Orsino have

a discussion about love while Toby, Andrew and the “fool” plan revenge on Malvolio by making

it appear as though Olivia loves him.

Characters:

Malvolio- ‘mal’ meaning bad implies the feelings Toby, Andrew and Maria have towards

him, and also his bitter nature

Fabian: literally meaning “one who grows beans” this implies Fabian’s role as a servant

Feste: a joker, his name implies is fun and joking nature

Olivia/Viola: the similarities of their names suggest their similarities; they were involved in

the same love triangle and both had the feeling of grief and wanting to hide from the world

Maria: In Hebrew, the word means bitter, implying Maria’s somewhat bitter attitude

Act III

Cesario (Viola) has come back to Olivia’s house to deliver another message form Orsino. When

Cesario arrives to the house Feste is out front and they joke around with one another. Feste then goes

to announce that Cesario is here. Cesario goes to the garden and meets with Sir Toby and Sir

Andrew, there conversations are very awkward because they are both drunk. When they are about to

go inside Olivia and Maria come to the garden and sends everyone away so she can talk to Cesario

alone. Once they are alone Olivia expresses her love for Cesario and does not want any more love

letters from Orsino. Cesario rejects her and tells her no one can have his(her) heart. Back in the

house Sir Andrew wants to leave because he saw Olivia all over Cesario. Sir Toby convinces him to

stay by telling him that she was simply trying to make him jealous. Maria then enters to tell them that

Malvolio is acting like a complete idiot and doing everything that the letter had told him to do. The

plot then goes to the streets of Illyria and Sebastian and Antonio find out that it is not safe for

Antonio to talk in the streets because Orsino does not like him. They are going to try and find a place

to stay. Sebastian continues to roam the streets and has the money Antonio gave him. Olivia sends a

servant after Cesario and tries to figure out how to win him over. She then calls for Malvolio, and

once he enters and starts talking Olivia thinks that he has gone mad. Cesario returns and Olivia

leaves Malvolio to go talk to him. Malvolio is then placed in the dark room to contain his madness.

Sir Andrew gives a letter to Sir Toby for a duel against Cesario. He does not give it to him but goes

back and forth talking to both Sir Andrew and Cesario for a duel of wits, instead. Olivia is trying to

convince Cesario to love her. Cesario does not want to fight, but crosses paths with Sir Andrew and

they both draw their swords. Antonio then shows up, mistaking Cesario (Viola) for Sebastian. The

Duke’s men recognize Antonio and arrest him; he asks for the money he gave Sebastian but Viola

does not know what he is talking about.

Act IV

Feste sees Sebastian thinking that he it Cesario, and tries to bring him back to Olivia’s house (he

does not know what is going on). He is then attacked by Sir Andrew because he think that it is

Cesario. Sebastian then starts to fight with Sir Andrew and he cries for mercy. Sebastian tries to

leave but Sir Toby does not let him and and pulls out his sword to fight. Olivia sees them and grabs

Sebastian and takes him to her house. At Olivia’s house, Feste dresses up in monk’s robes to go and

talk to Malvolio in the dark room to pull another prank on him by convincing him that he is indeed

mad. Sebastian is walking around the house and agrees to marry Olivia even though she thinks that

he is Cesario. They go off to get married.

Act V

Orsino is approaching the house with Cesario and Antonio. Orsino questions Antonio as to why he is

there, but Antonio is still bitter to Cesario (who he think is Sebastian). Olivia then enters talking to

Cesario, thinking it is the person she just married. Orsino is mad that Cesario betrayed him and takes

him off to be killed. Cesario (Viola) then expresses her love for Orsino and Olivia is taken by

suprise. Sir Andrew then enters and is in pain and blames it on Cesario althought it was really

Sebastian who hurt him. Sebastian finally enters and apologizes to Olivia for hurting her relative. He

then sees Antonio and is happy to see him finally. Everyone sees that Sebastian and Cesario look just

alike. They interrogate each other and realize that they are who they say. Then everyone realizes that

Cesario is in fact a woman. Viola then expresses her love to Orsino once again. Olivia then realizes

Malvolio is not mad and lets him out of the dark room. He enters very angrily, demanding why

Olivia wrote that note (which she sees is not her handwriting, revealing the trick). Finally the Duke

proclaims his intent to marry Viola.

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6.

1. She never told her love,

But let concealment, like a worm i’ the bud,

Feed on her damask cheek: she pined in thought,

And with a green and yellow melancholy

She sat like patience on a monument,

Smiling at grief. Was not this love indeed?

- Viola (2.4.96-101)

2. “Come away, come away, death,

And in sad cypress let me be laid;

Fly away, fly away breath;

I am slain by a fair cruel maid.”

-(2.4, 55)

7.

1. Shakespeare’s style is concise, the most notable element being the frequent use of double

entendres. Shakespeare also uses paradox to heighten the emphasis and meaning of the related

metaphor and similes. Viola speaks of a paradox when she says that the concealment of love reveals

it. Simile and metaphor are another 2 devices evident in this passage. Viola likens concealment to a

worm and patience to a monument. Melancholy is characterized as a green and yellow object.

2. In quote two Shakespeare uses several different literary devices such as alliteration,

apostrophe, personification, oxymoron, and repetition. We see alliteration with “sad cypress” and

apostrophe/personification with the comment on death. An oxymoron is present with “fair cruel

maid”. Repetition is used in “Come away, come away” and “Fly away, fly away” which further

stresses the presence of death. The element of repetition adds to the poetic and musical aspect

of “Twelfth Night”.

8.

1. A spirit I am indeed, But am in that dimension grossly clad Which from the womb I did

participate. Were you a woman, as the rest goes even, I should my tears let fall upon your check, And

say ‘Thrice welcome, drowned Viola!”

-Sebastian (5.1.228-234)

mistaken identity, disguise, gender

mention of womb - symbol of femininity

thrice drowned - he has lost his sister 3 times (1st - he believed she downed in the accident, 2nd - she

dressed as a man, so he lost his ‘sister’ though Viola was not lost, only her identity as female/sister,

3rd -

2. The more fool, Madonna, to mourn for your brother’s soul, being in heaven.

Take away the fool, gentlemen.

-Feste, the fool (1.5.65-67)

Feste , Olivia’s fool teases her in saying she should not mourn for her brother if he has indeed

gone to heaven, for he is better off. He calls her the fool and calls to her courtiers to carry her off.

This quote is a good example of the role of clowns in Shakespearean plays, and their relationship

with the characters. The clown is not a symbol, theme or motif himself, but he is representative of the

theme that love is the root of all suffering. Feste points out that Olivia’s suffering is pointless, but she

feels inclined to suffer because she loved her brother.

3. By Innocence I swear, and by my youth

I have one heart, one bosom, and one truth,

And that no woman has; not never none

Shall be mistress of it, save I alone

-Viola as Cesario (3.1.154-157)

Viola is disguised as Cesario, a man. But she slips up in the 4th line when she says no

woman but herself shall be the mistress of her heart.This quote is another example of gender play

and mistaken identity. Although Viola has Olivia completely fooled, she slips up in small ways in

her speeches such as this. Viola claims she has never been in love with a woman, and will never

give her heart to a woman. She has however been in love with a man, so her false gender identity

is a loophole which allows her to lie about her love life in order to connect with Olivia and form an

understanding on the silliness of love.

4. “Make me a willow cabin at your gate, and call upon my soul within...but you should pity me!” -

Viola (Act 1 Scene 5)

>This quote is significant in that it represents the first real chain in the long line of deceit and

deception in the story. This theme is continued throughout the entirety of the story.

Another significance to what Viola says is that the actions she describes that would take place if she

was the one in love with Olivia are the opposite of what Orsino is doing. This sets off Olivia’s

infatuation for Cesario adding another part to the dramatic love triangle.

5 .“Be not amaz’d; right noble is his blood...and let me see thee in thy woman’s weeds.” -Duke

Orsino and Viola (Act 5 Scene 1)

>This quote is significant in that it shows how much of an impact deception has on the characters.

Here particularly, Orsino has been so deeply affected by the Viola’s impersonation as Cesario that he

continues to use “he” when referencing her even though he’s already discovered her true identity.

This draws on the theme that we come to assume so much simply based on appearance and the way

in which one acts.

6 .“Wit, and’t be thy will, put me into good feeling...better a witty fool than a foolish wit.” -Feste

(Act 1 Scene 5)

>This quote also pulls on the theme of deception as way of life in some way. Feste’s comment that

it is better to appear wise than to be wise and not appear so. This reflects and theme drawn from the

whole story in that deception is tool that can bring you success, if used correctly.

7. “For the rain it raineth every day” - Feste (Act 5 Scene 1)

This quote is the repeated line that ends almost every stanza of the song Feste sings at the very end

of the play. This line helps create a sense of rhythm throughout the last song, a feeling of connection

such as the play itself has exhibited as all the characters and stories connected and inter-weaved.

8. “Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them” -

Malvolio (Act 2 Scene 2)

This quote, while used to profess fake love to Malvolio, portrays all of the characters. Olivia and

Orsino are born with their royal linage, Viola achieves greatness through her dedication to Orsino,

and Sebastian and Antonio have greatness happen to them by chancing into the correct situation.

9. “It were a bad recompense for your love to lay any of them on you.” Sebastian (Act 2 Scene 1)

This line serves to foreshadow how Antonio’s love for Sebastian is later hurt accidentally by Viola

and how Sebastian ends up getting Antonio into trouble. Also, on a personal note, holy mancrush,

Batman! These two guys spend the whole play speaking of love to each other. It’s weirdly

homoerotic.

10. “If music be the food of love, play on

Give me excess of it, that, surfeiting,

The appetite may sicken and so die.” - Orsino (Scene 1 Act 1)

This quote introduces the main conflict throughout the play as well as introducing themes.

Throughout the play, the various characters gain affection for those who don’t return them, Viola to

Orsino, Orsino to Olivia, Olivia to Viola (Antonio to Sebastian), and are forced to suffer through the

pain of their unrequited love. As this is occurring, Feste the fool dances about, singing songs to try to

entertain and maintain spirits, but his advances towards joy are not taken kindly. The two notions

compete somewhat throughout the book and are introduced in this line.

Orsino later states that he wishes to “overdose” on love so that he will no longer have to bear it’s

burden. Here, Shakespeare reveals his theme of love not only as burdensome, but also unwanted.

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Orsino Powerful ruler and “If music be the food Noble, egotistical,

nobleman in the country of Illyria. He loves Lady Olivia but begins to fall for his male companion Cesario as the book progresses.

of love, play on…” loving, and enjoys sexual feelings. 

Malvolio Malvolio is a very arrogant man who serves as the brunt of Maria/Andrew/Toby’s cruel joke. By the end of the play he promises to exact revenge on all the characters because of his humiliation.

“I may command where I adore. Why, she may command me; I serve her, she is my lady…”

A stiff and very proper man, described as a “puritan.” He frowns on obnoxious behavior like Sir Toby’s drinking. Seems to be secretly in love with Olivia, as the joke runs its course.

Olivia A rich woman who is by courted by Orsino and Aguecheek but refuses because of the loss of her brother; falls in love with Caesario/Viola.

“O, you are sick of self-love, Malvolio and taste with a distempered appetite. To be generous, guiltless…”

Beautiful, rich woman; somewhat emotionally distraught from the loss of her family and is indecisive.

Viola Protagonist; disguised herself as a man called “Caesario” and works as a page for Orsino; eventually falls in love with Orsino

“I’ll do my best to woo your lady. Yet, a barful strife! Whoe’er I woo, myself would be his wife.”

Young woman who is the most consistent character in the story; falls in love and values family

Sebastian Viola's lost twin brother, Lady Olivia falls in love and wants to marry him. 

"A spirit I am indeed; But am in that dimension grossly clad, Which from the womb I did participate."

Simple minded, not well-rounded, basic

Antonio Rescues Sebastian after his shipwreck, becomes romantically involved with him. 

“I could not stay behind you. My desire, more sharp than filed steel, did spur me forth…”

Ambitious, homosexual, caring, and loving. 

Maria Olivia's servant, very eager to fall in love and get married.

"Ay, sir, I have them at my fingers' ends. have . . . at my fingers' ends have at the

Daring, outspoken, clever, witty, and in good spirits at all times.

ready Marry, now I let go your hand, I am barren."

Toby Sir Toby is Olivia's uncle. He manipulates Andrew to continue to woo Olivia so he can keep getting money from Andrew, since Andrew is rich but dimwitted.

“Confine! I'll confine myself no finer than I am: these clothes are good enough to drink in; and so be these boots too: an they be not, let them hang themselves in their own straps. “

Toby is a one of William Shakespeare finest comedic character. He is a strong-willed person and a drunkard who will do anything for money.

Feste He’s a source of mockery and amusement as he pokes fun at many of the characters. His song at the end of the book is a significant commentary on growing old.

“I am indeed not her fool, but her corrupter of words”

Very witty and cunning, a jester who can see the true cause of someone’s problems.

Andrew Sir Andrew Aguecheek is a friend of Toby and a support character to Toby. He is Toby’s friend, or so he thinks, but in reality, Toby only wants power and money from him. Andrew wants to marry Olivia but realizes she does not love him.

“He hath indeed, almost natural: for besides that he's a fool, he's a great quarreller: and but that he hath the gift of a coward to allay the gust he hath in quarrelling, 'tis thought among the prudent he would quickly have the gift of a grave. “

He is a rich, and loves to wear red socks. He is somewhat skinny, and he wears fancy clothing. He is an idiot who thinks he is a brave, young champion who is good at languages, dueling, and dancing, among other things.

Fabian Fabian is a friend of Sir Toby, and he serves as an accomplice to the plot against Malvolio, as well as the duel with

“Though our silence be drawn from us with cars, yet peace.”

Very little of Fabian is revealed, except that he enjoys a good joke and shares at least some tastes with Sir Toby.

Viola. He also acts as a restraining force on Toby in some situations.

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10. Settings: What are the major settings in the play? What do these settings represent in connection with the work as a whole?Olivia’s castle - Felinity, love, confinement/exclusion/separation Olivia’s garden - Fertility, love, desire, and rash reactions/impulseSea coast - Wild, Unknown, Untamed/Uncharted territories, foreshadowing of the upcoming confusionOrsino’s court - Masculinity, strength, male dominance,

11. Opening scene: Describe the scene, and explain how the opening scene sets the tone of the play as well as themes.The opening scene is a discussion between Valentine and Orsino in which Orsino is expressing his love for Olivia, only to find she has sworn off men for seven years to mourn her brother. This introduces the main theme of unrequited love, and sets a light hearted tone, common in comedies.

12. Closing scene: Describe the scene, and explain how the scene presents Shakespeare’s commentary. What is the tone? How does it pull the story together? Who is the last speaker? Why is it him?The closing scene of the play presents the reader with closure and provides the “happy ending” that is expected of the comedy genre. The last speaker of the play is the fool. This strategy not only lightens the mood, but represents the frivolity of the story as whole. It also relates to the theme of the foolishness of humanity, and shows that the fool might be the wisest of them all.

13. Symbols and motifs: Give specific examples of each, citing act, scene, and line numbers. Use ellipses if you must, and be sure to explain their thematic implications. There must be five.

Disguises- Viola uses a disguise in order to get into Orsino’s court. This disguise creates the love triangle between Viola, Olivia, and Orsino. Act I, Scene II, Line 51. This also extends to Olivia’s veil, concealing her and adding to the obscuring of real identities in the story. Disguises relate to the themes of the Dangers of Miscommunication and the Foolishness of Humanity, because they keep people from knowing who people really are and cause silly situations, such as Olivia accidentally falling for a woman in disguise.

Olivia’s Gifts- Olivia sends both a ring with Viola and a Pearl with Sebastian to illustrate her love for him and both of these gifts illustrate the materialistic nature of man. Act 1 Scene 5 lines 307-315Act 3 Scene 4 lines 214-220

Messengers- Throughout the play, characters send messengers to each other. For example, in Act I, Scene II, Line 13, Orsino sends ‘Cesario’ as a messenger to Olivia. Messengers are made necessary in this case, because of Orsino’s unrequited love for Olivia. Throughout Act III, Sir Toby is an unreliable messenger, stirring up trouble, and this contributes to the theme of the Dangers of Miscommunication.

Clothing-Throughout the play it is illustrated that clothing is extremely important and defines the characters class and gender. For instance, Viola becomes Cessario when she dawns men’s clothing and Orisino even beckons her to put on women’s clothing so she can become his wife. Act 5 Scene 1 lines 290-295Act 2 Scene V, lines 156-158, the fake letter tells Malvolio to wear yellow stockings and cross-gartered

Gender Confusion- Gender Confusion is a motif that is seen throughout the play. Viola dresses up as a man, Olivia falls in love with a woman and Antonio appears to show a subtle affinity for Sebastian. Act I, Scene III, last line Olivia starts to fall for Cesario who is Viola Act 3, Scene IV, lines 150 -200, Andrew writes a challenge to Viola, thinking Viola/Cesario to be a man pursuing Olivia Act 3, Scene IV, lines 325, Antonio butts into the fight thinking Viola is Sebastian Act 5, Scene I, lines 95, Olivia enters the scene saying Viola/Cersario her lover, Viola has no idea what she is talking about and leaves after OrsinoAct 5, Scene I, lines 235, Sebastian and Viola meet where the truth is revealed of them being twins and Viola really being a woman

14. Old AP prompt: Choose one prompt on which you could use this play. Write the year of the prompt at the top of the box, and write an opening paragraph for Question 3. Be eloquent and suburb.

1993. “The true test of comedy is that it shall awaken thoughtful laughter.” Choose a novel, play, or long poem in which a scene or character awakens “thoughtful laughter” in the reader. Write an essay in which you show why this laughter is “thoughtful” and how it contributes to the meaning of the work.

    In Shakespeare’s well-known play, Twelfth Night, the character of the fool is both amusing and intriguing. Often the fool appears wittier and wiser than those who are thought of as

gentlemen, though they are supposed to be more intelligent than a common fool. These scenes induce laughter, but also cause the reader to reflect on society’s conceptions of people and what it means to be foolish. The fool in Twelfth Night awakens laughter and reflection on society and the nature of intellect.

15. Themes: Choose five themes, write them in complete sentences, and provide an example of support, citing acts, scenes and line numbers.

The importance of a person’s identity and the frequency with which it is mistaken- Throughout the play, Shakespeare comments on the mistaken identities between Cesario and Sebastian, leading to Antonio’s incarceration and Olivia’s mirage to Sebastian. In Act 4 scene 1 line 8, the fool comments on this sibling confusion in saying “Nothing that is so is so.”

The foolishness of humanity-An example of this theme is when Malvolio reads Maria’s love letter and is foolishly deceived into wearing yellow stockings and cross garters because he thinks it will win him Olivia’s love. Act 2 Scene 5 110-135

The Pain (and foolishness) of Unrequited Love:  This theme is prominent throughout the entire novel between various characters: Orsino’s feelings for Olivia, Olivia’ feelings for Cesario, Viola’s feelings for Orsino, Sir Andrew’s feelings for Olivia, and Malvolio’s feelings for Olivia. Example: when Viola takes Olivia the ok message from the Duke Act 1 Scene 5 168-242

Irony in human interactions- -When Viola tells the Duke that he desires a man just like him but he does not realize it, this is evident to the audience, but not to the Duke. Act 2 Scene 4 25-35

The malevolence of human nature: When Maria, Andrew, and Toby decide to deceive Malvolio and also when Toby tries to deceive Andrew so that he does not have to pay back his outstanding debt. Act 2 Scene 3 lines 147-190