Essay on Disguises and Mistaken Identity in Twelfth Night

Mistaken identity and disguise are important aspects of comedy in Twelfth Night that stand at the forefront of the play’s comedy. Not only are mistaken identities and disguise evident within the main plot of the play but also in various other situations. Sexual confusion amongst characters, subversion of gender roles and farcical elements through stagecraft all effectively contribute to the dramatic comedy genre. However, it can be suggested that certain elements of Twelfth Night are not interpreted to be purely comedic; Shakespeare has incorporated serious and controversial subjects such as the idea of genuine love, the patriarchy of the time and the cruel gulling of Malvolio. Therefore, disguise and mistaken identity are not solely for†¦show more content†¦Orsino continues to address Viola by her male name. Thus, it could be questioned whether Orsino is truly in love with Viola, or if he is more infatuated of her male facade. In an Elizabethan era, Sodomy was a capi tal offense; as a result this latent hint of homoeroticism may evoke surprise although may not have been taken seriously. Consequently, this may provoke incredulous laughter in the Elizabethan audience, an idea suggested by numerous modern day critics. This is closely related to the concept of incongruity theory of laughter, ‘the idea that we laugh at mismatched ideas or elements, the juxtaposition of incompatible things’. In this instance, Shakespeare is using mistaken identity to create sexual confusion amongst characters, which evoke humour. However, Shakespeare may possibly be trying to communicate a fundamental message about the true nature of love and whether genuine love should be deemed as wrong purely based on gender. Similarly, this idea relates to the suggestion that Shakespeare may use mistaken identity and disguise to challenge society’s social norms and values in an Elizabethan period. At the time, it was a patriarchal society, male dominated, by which women remained passive and had to conform to social expectations. However, by disguising Viola as a man, Shakespeare allows a woman to gain a considerable amount of power and subvert the stereotypical social order. An example of this is when Viola is given the power to ‘woo’ Olivia forShow MoreRelatedTwelfth night- mistaken identity1169 Words   |  5 Pagescomedy in ‘Twelfth Night’ is largely generated by episodes involving mistaken identity. How far do you agree? William Shakespeare, in his well-known comic play, Twelfth Night, creates a plot that revolves around mistaken identity and deception. Mistaken identity, along with disguises, affects the lives of several of the characters. Shakespeare s techniques involve mistaken identity to bring comedy, mystery, and complication to the play. 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