How Does Shakespeare Create Suspense?

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In the play Twelfth Night, Or What You Will by William Shakespeare, there are many parallel plots and subplots that help create suspense. Many great playwrights have used various structural components in their plays to provide a feeling of suspense for the audience. From the subplot with Sebastian to the parallel plot with Malvolio being pranked, there are many structural factors that create suspense. In the play Twelfth Night, Shakespeare’s enticing tone along with the use of parallel plots and subplots creates a suspenseful mood for the audience. There is one main subplot that provides great suspense for the readers. Viola thinks that Sebastian is dead, however, the audience discovers that he is actually alive. “My brother he is in Elysium” …show more content…

Malvolio is being pranked by Sir Toby, Maria, and others, which is very important to the story. In this parallel plot, the audience can see many close interactions with either Cesario or Sebastian. At one point, Sebastian says that he is going to Orsino’s palace, where the audience knows Viola is. “I am bound to the Count Orsino’s court. Farewell” (Shakespeare 2.1.36-37). The audience thinks that Viola and Sebastian must meet then which creates suspense.These encounters tie in with the subplot as well to provide even more suspense for the audience. The fact that the other characters in the play are confusing Cesario and Sebastian for one another means that they will inevitably be discovered. This greatly helps develop the suspenseful mood of the play. Many structural components of the play Twelfth Night create a feeling of suspense. Shakespeare’s mastery of parallel and subplots adds many interesting components of the play. The subplot with Sebastian provides the greatest suspense, while the parallel plot with Sir Toby and others aids in this suspense. These plots also leave the audience with great anticipation as to what will happen next. Shakespeare uses a very enticing tone when creating parallel and subplots, which all are major factors in developing the suspenseful mood of the

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