Twelfth Night: Exposing a Relationship Between Wit and Social Class

Richard McConnel and Brynn Siefkes

Thesis

Through the use of dichotomy, Shakespeare makes an exegetical comment on a relationship between wit and social class. By presenting Nobles as fools and those of lower class as wits, he problematizes the aspiration for a higher class.

• Heartsick EgotistCurio: “Will you go hunt, my lord?Orsino: “What, Curio?”Curio: “The Hart”Orsino: “Why, so I do, the nobles that I have. O, when mine eyes did see Olivia first, … That instant was I turned into a hart. And my desires fell and cruel hounds e’er since persue me” (17-22 p. 1190)

• Clever ProtagonistViola: “She loves me sure! The cunning of her passionInvites me in this churlish messengerNone of my lord’s ring? Why he sent her none!” (22-24 p. 1206)

• Party AnimalsSir Andrew: “Dieu vous garde, monsieur.”Viola: “Et vous assi. Votre serviteur!”Sir Andrew: “I hope, sir, you are, and I am yours” (70-72 pg. 1220)

• Clever ServantMaria: “I will drop in his way some obscure epistles of love…”Sir Toby: “Excellent! I smell a device.”Sir. Andrew: “I have’t in my nose too” (143-151 p. 1210)

Sr. Toby & Sr. Andrew

Maria

• Self-Righteous Servant“Fool! Fool! Fool, I say!” (102 p. 1239)

• Observant JesterViola: “The fellow is wise enough to play the fool, And to do that well craves a kind of wit” (59-61 p. 1220)

Malvolio Feste

Questions

• In lines 366-367, Feste says that somehow everyone gets a chance at greatness, is this fair?

• Do you think that Malvolio got what he deserved? Do you think Viola got what she deserved? How does this play into the idea of aspiring for a higher rank?