Appropriate Gender Roles In Twelfth Night By William Shakespeare

During Shakespeare’s time, Elizabethan society forced many barriers upon women. There were certain gender roles that were seen as appropriate for each sex. Women were typically seen as weaker and more submissive than the males. In Twelfth Night, Shakespeare took a different approach on how women are viewed and their roles in society. Many of the female characters such as Viola and Olivia have more rights than women in previous Shakespeare plays. Although women are usually seen as the passive object to man’s more active and and powerful subject, Shakespeare challenges what society sees as the appropriate gender roles.

There are many role reversals throughout Twelfth Night. Viola is one character that experienced a role reversal due to a shipwreck that separated her from her twin brother Sebastian. Viola was “A virgin, shipwrecked in a strange land, possessing only wit and intelligence and the Captain's friendship, she

For example, Viola’s double gender helped give her authority when she was disguised as Cesario. If Viola would have been dressed as her normal self, she would not have been able to intimidate Orsino. If Orsino would have known Cesario’s true identity, the plot would have gone differently. If Orsino would have known that Cesario was really Viola, he would not have sent him to try to persuade Olivia. If Cesario would not have been sent to Olivia, she would not have fallen deeply in love with him. Women are seen as inferior to men, however with the right disguise women can become accustom to male gender roles. Shakespeare is challenging what society thinks are the appropriate gender roles and this is shown through Viola. If Viola had not taken on a male disguise, there is no telling where she would be and what would have happened to her. However, since Viola was disguised as a male, she was given authority and able to get a job to support