More handpicked essays just for you.
Literary criticism and analysis of twelfth night
Literary criticism and analysis of twelfth night
Literary criticism and analysis of twelfth night
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, which is commonly believed to criticize society’s romanticized idea of love, demonstrates that even though love may seem unachievable, it is still possible to find it even in the most unlikely places. Shakespeare illustrates this idea in Twelfth Night through the characters Antonio and Sebastian by subtly suggesting that Antonio and Sebastian are more than just friends. It is Sebastian’s physical beauty that attracts Antonio to him, which leads him to devote himself to Sebastian as a sign of love. Antonio’s love for Sebastian grows to obsession; however Sebastian considers their friendship to be completely plutonic. In addition Sebastian generally tries to save Antonio from his own desire; however he does a bad job by leading him on unintentionally due to his passive nature. Antonio is so mesmerized by Sebastian’s beauty that he states, “If you will not murder me for my love, let me be your servant” (2.1.35).Antonio is becoming obsessed with Sebastian and cannot stand the idea of not spending time with him, that he begs him to let him be his servant so he can accompany Sebastian and serve him in any way possible. His desire to serve Sebastian comes from his obsession with him. Antonio extreme obsession for Sebastian stems from the Elizabethan connection between good looks and a good soul. Sebastian tries to prevent this firm devotion but pleads with Antonio: “Crave[s] of [his] leave, that [he] may bear [his] evils alone”(2.1.5-6).(Insert Analysis for the previous quote). Sebastian advises Antonio to “Fare ye well at once”(2.1.39) in an effort to prevent him any injury that Sebastian’s venture might bring. After hearing this Antonio is still adamant about attending Orsino’s court as well; “B...
... middle of paper ...
...d offers to fight for Cesario, mistaking him for Sebastian. When caught by the Count’s officers, he asks Cesario for the return of some money he lent Sebastian, but of course Cesario has no idea who he is. Believing himself betrayed he soon hates who he used to love.
It is hard to determine between love and lust and how it still is not evident if Antonio was meant to be gay or if he was simply in love with Sebastian's beauty, his feminine beauty as was Orsino with Cesario beauty. In conclusion the character Sebastian had female qualities such as his passive nature that attracts Antonio to him. Passiveness that attracted Antonio to him ,but it was these qualities that Antonio loved that caused him to get his heart broken.
Work Cited
Shakespeare, William. Twelfth Night Or, What You Will. New York, New York: New American Library, 1998. Print.
events in his life. And Antonio acknowledge this, that he asks the same questions and looks to
"William Shakespeare, William. "Twelfth Night." Norton's Anthology of English Literature. Ed. Stephen Greenblatt. New York City: W.W. Norton & Co., 2010.
First, and probably most important are the three sources of understanding for Antonio. First, there is Ultima, who serves as a neutral source of understanding and comforter for Antonio. The next source of understanding for Antonio is God. Antonio constantly struggles to understand good and evil through the eyes of the Catholic God. The final source of understanding for Antonio is the golden carp. The golden carp seems to be the alternative to believing in God throughout this novel. Antonio is constantly conflicted between God and the golden carp. When this conflict gets to be too much for Antonio, he goes to see Ultima. "I felt more attached to Ultima than to my own mother. Ultima told me the stories and legends of my ancestors. From her I learned the glory and the tragedy of the history of my people, and I came to understand how that history stirred in my blood" (128). This quote illustrates the point that Ultima serves as a crucial part of Antonio's learning and understanding experiences. Antonio feels closer to Ultima than to his own mother, so naturally she is going to have a key hand in influencing him. Just as she serves to mediate his conflicts between the golden carp and God, she mediates between his Luna and Márez blood.
In Antonio’s first dream, Ultima states that “[she] pulled this baby into the light of life, so [she] will bury the afterbirth and the cord that once linked him to eternity. Only [she] will know his destiny”(Anaya 6). In his dream, Antonio is left wondering what his destiny holds. He only worries about what path he will eventually chose and whether or not it is right. He asks questions only related to himself. Later on in the book, in Antonio’s dream about God and the Virgin Mary, God declares that he will forgive Narciso “if [Antonio] also [asks him] to forgive Tenorio.” Virgin Mary states that “[she] will forgive Tenorio”(Anaya 172). Because God punishes all and Virgin Mary forgives all, Antonio begins to question their morality. Antonio is concerned why Tenorio continues to do evil without being punished and he feels responsible to beg for forgiveness for Narciso. Antonie struggles with understanding how God and Virgin Mary do not forgive and punish based on what is morally correct. His conflicts are no longer about himself but are rather about issues with morality. Since his first dream, one can tell that Antonio has matured greatly based on the conflicts of his
Before coming directly to the forming of the love-theme that differentiates Othello from other Shakespeare plays that utilize the same theme, I turn arbitrarily to Iago to inspect a distinguishing mark of his of which the relevance to thematic form in the play will appear a little later. When Iago with unperceived scoffing reminds Roderigo, who is drawn with merciless attraction to the unreachable Desdemona, that love effects an unwonted nobility in men, he states a doctrine which he “knows” is true but in which he may not “believe.” Ennoblement by love is a real possibility in men, but Iago has to view it with bitterness and to try to undermine it. (333-34)
Portia play’s a major role in trying to persuade Shylock to be merciful to Antonio, as the story continues. Basannio, the loyal friend of Antonio also tries to persuade Shylock to show some sympathy towards Antonio, but is not shown.
Antonio begins to question the authenticity of religion and wonders, if God is always watching, “Why does he allow evil to go unpunished? Why does he allow evil to exist?” Regardless, he defends God when asked, “You mean I can go out and sin, do bad things… do a million bad things and then when I’m about to die I just have to go to confession and make communion, and I go to Heaven?” Antonio sees the flaws in this, and deems it unfair, but he still defends God and the Catholic Church and its beliefs.
Naturally, one of the most reoccurring themes in Shakespeare is romantic love. It is perhaps not a coincidence that he put so much emphasis on this elusive and enigmatic emotion. In the Elizabethan age when he was writing, the arts were being explored more fervently, and thus raw human emotions began to surface in the mainstream culture. In Twelfth Night, love is a confusing and fickle thing, as demonstrated in the relationships between Duke Orsino and Olivia; Olivia and Viola/Curio; Malvolio and Olivia (she certainly has an effect on men doesn't she?); Duke Orsino and Viola/Curio. However, the characters seem to have a love-hate relationship with Cupid. Within the first line of the play, it is glorified: "If music be the food of love, play on..." (Duke Orsino, I:I). And while Olivia is annoyed with Orsino's affection, she craves Curio's.
Although many arguments could take place over the blame of Othello’s fate, the one murderer no one doubts is jealousy. Although Othello’s insecurities and “blindness” along with one of the most duplicitous villains in all of literature definitely catalyze the deaths at the conclusion of the play, in the end Othello must suffer the consequences manipulated or not. Despite the number of uninteresting characters in the play, Othello, the Moor of Venice contains one of the most intricate characters in any of Shakespeare’s plays, and will be discussed and intensely argued forever.
It is true that Antonio seized power from his older brother, Prospero, and that this usurpation is viewed as wrong by the dominant values of the time and by the text. This viewpoint is constructed by presenting Antonio as a treacherous, evil character who is willing to murder Alonso and Gonzalo. This is the view foregrounded by the play, but little is mentioned about why this state of affairs arose. The silences of the story, involving Antonio being ...
Despite the fact that it would be incredibly dangerous for him to go there, he is willing to if it means he is able to be by the side of his friend: “I have many enemies in Orsino’s court, / Else would I very shortly see thee there. / But, come what may, I do adore thee so / That danger shall seem sport, and I will go.” (Act 2, Scene 1, 38-41). Sacrificing his safety for that of Sebastian reveals how strongly Antonio truly loves Sebastian. When loving someone, it is instinct to protect them when they are in danger. For example, Antonio comes to “Sebastian’s” rescue when he is being challenged by men of Illyrya. “Put up your sword. If this young gentleman / Have done offence, I take the fault on me. / If you offend him, I for him defy you.” (Act 3, Scene 4, Li 281-283). Despite the danger Antonio was putting himself into, he still came to his friends rescue. He is willing to take the blame for the crimes that “Sebastian” has committed if that means that his valued companion will be safe. As humans it is expected that one would want to protect him or herself over the people around them. But when one is in love all logic is thrown out the window and he is willing to do anything to be with and protect the people whom
Like most fairy tales that commence with "Once upon a time," William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night is a romantic comedy where a basic conflict is eventually resolved so that all the protagonists live "happily ever after." Similar to Shakespeare's other romantic comedies, Twelfth Night not only includes conflict resolution, but also a wedding in the final act meant to signify the good fortune that is bestowed on all the central characters at the conclusion of the play. Ultimately love is supposed to conquer all things. As displayed in fairy tales, love comes complete with chirping birds and a rainbow painted sky. Shakespeare, however, mocks love in its absurdity and accuses it of imperfection because love is a truth that is not perfect and does not always triumph. By examining the characters Olivia and Orsino, a reader will recognize that love is inconsistent and unconventional, and is capable of being genuine at times and egotistical at others; in order for love to be unconditional a level of openness and honesty must first occur. This level of sincerity is evident through the theme of gender bending.
Rodrigo’s character serves as an example of true jealousy over love, rather as a facade to cover-up another motivation, as seen with Othello and Iago. He displays a decline in power once wrought with jealousy, rather than the upshot seen in the other two. Iago and Othello take matters into their own
Antonio 's remorseless and unforgiving nature upon the arrival of the harpy in Act 3 Scene 3 is ultimately what results in despair. Had Antonio merely admitted he was wrong, he would have reaped a significantly better ending to his tale from the merciful Prospero. Sebastian stubborn and easily manipulated personality also meets the same fate as Antonio. On the other hand, many characters are rewarded for their forgiveness. Alonso gets his son back as a reward for his remorseful mentality towards what he did to Prospero, something that definitely reflects the good people receive for forgiving or asking to be forgiven. Another great example of this is Ferdinand, who is threatened with enslavement in Act 1, Scene 2 but remains content. Ferdinand simply proclaims "“Might I but through my prison once a day behold this maid: all corners else o ' the earth let liberty make use of; space enough have I in such a prison,” (1.2.495-499) thus forgiving Prospero for enslaving him merely out of love for Miranda. This shows huge love and compassion and a great sense of goodness. Appropriately, this goodness does reap its rewards, as Ferdinand
In life, there are various types of love. Two are shown in The Merchant of Venice, by William Shakespeare, written in 1589. He focuses on friendship and romance. The motif of friendship is evident with many characters throughout the play. Depending on the character, the idea of love over friendship is a controversial matter. In many instances, Bassanio and Antonio believe that friendship is more important than love. Therefore, the following theme is proven: friendship is a bond stronger than a vow of love. In the beginning of the play, Antonio is willing to sacrifice his credit to ensure Bassanio’s happiness. In the middle of the play, friendship and romance conflict, as Antonio is willing to give up his flesh to fulfill the bond that he makes with Shylock, and Bassanio departs to Venice without his newly-wedded wife. At the end of the play, Antonio persuades Bassanio to break his promise to his wife, fully proving the bond of friendship is stronger than a vow of love. Within this instance, Bassanio neglects his wife to support his friend in Venice. Throughout the play, Antonio and Bassanio’s friendship is highly valued over Portia and Bassanio’s marriage.