This essay examines the contrasting character of love in Twelfth Night. In this play, love is presented as a highly ambiguous affair, eventually bringing about the romantic happiness of a triple wedding as well as the bleakness of Malvolio’s and Antonio’s bitter rejection. In particular, subtexts of unfulfilled homosexual longing and
unappeasable class conflict are explored.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The Binary Nature of Love in Elizabethan Context
3. Orsino's Lovesickness and Petrarchan Idealization
4. Social Status and the Motivation of Service
5. Malvolio's Scapegoating and Societal Perspectives
6. Overlapping Layers of Same-Sex Love
7. Conclusion
Objectives and Research Themes
This study aims to examine the multifaceted and often contradictory nature of love in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, analyzing how the play navigates complex dynamics of gender, social class, and emotional expression within the context of Elizabethan drama.
- The ambiguity of love as both a source of happiness and a disruptive, illness-like force.
- The intersection of erotic desire with social status and master-servant power dynamics.
- The critical reception of Malvolio and the socio-political implications of his rejection.
- Contrasting portrayals of same-sex attraction and male bonding versus the exclusion of female intimacy.
- The dangers of applying modern sociological frameworks to early modern literary characterization.
Extract from the Book
Over the years, the reception of Twelfth Night has changed significantly.
Whereas some 50 years ago the vast majority of readers would agree that it has a “prevailing atmosphere of happiness” (Salingar 117), contemporary critics consider the play a “disturbing and cynical affair” (Lindheim 679). Far from depicting a romantic idyll, Twelfth Night is now being read almost exclusively in terms of its “underlining subtexts of unfulfilled homosexual longing and unappeasable class conflict” (ibid.). But issues of gender and class, however fruitful as a background for criticism, should not be overestimated in their importance: By focusing on terms like “power” and “desire”, modern critics run the risk of “distorting a concept [i.e. love] dear to Shakespeare” (Schalkwyk 76). Building on this argument, I want to examine the contrasting character of love in Twelfth Night. In this play, love is presented as a highly ambiguous affair, eventually bringing about the romantic happiness of a triple wedding as well as the bleakness of Malvolio’s and Antonio’s bitter rejection.
Thinking of love in such binary terms was commonplace in Elizabethan times. As Salingar points out, “Shakespeare could take in his audience for granted not simply a readiness to be interested in romance, but a sense of the opposition between romance and reason“ (120). This distinction sets the framework for the way in which love is pictured in Twelfth Night. Here, the pursuit of true love, which is a major theme of all of Shakespeare’s comedies (Biewer 508), is not straightforward and logical, but rather discontinuous and fragmented.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the shift in critical reception of the play from a joyful comedy to a more cynical work focused on power and desire.
2. The Binary Nature of Love in Elizabethan Context: Explores how Elizabethan audiences perceived the tension between romance and reason, framing love as a fragmented experience.
3. Orsino's Lovesickness and Petrarchan Idealization: Analyzes Orsino’s performative grief and his tendency to treat love as an unattainable ideal rather than a genuine emotion.
4. Social Status and the Motivation of Service: Examines how social elevation and master-servant relationships dictate the expression of desire within Illyria.
5. Malvolio's Scapegoating and Societal Perspectives: Discusses the differing scholarly views on whether Malvolio's downfall is a result of class conflict or his specific moral and Puritan character.
6. Overlapping Layers of Same-Sex Love: Compares the sympathetic depiction of male bonding with the dismissive or critical treatment of potential female intimacy.
7. Conclusion: Synthesizes the argument that Twelfth Night should be appreciated as a nuanced psychological study of love rather than a sociological dissertation.
Keywords
Twelfth Night, William Shakespeare, Elizabethan comedy, love, desire, gender, social class, Malvolio, Orsino, homoeroticism, Petrarchan model, service, literary criticism, psychology, Illyria.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this research paper?
The paper examines the complex and contrasting aspects of love in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, specifically how it oscillates between romantic idealization and cynical reality.
What are the primary themes discussed?
The study focuses on the interplay between romance and reason, the influence of social hierarchy, the nature of "lovesickness," and the portrayal of same-sex and cross-class attractions.
What is the main objective of the author?
The goal is to evaluate how love is presented in the play and to argue against overly reductive socio-critical readings that might ignore Shakespeare's original intent.
What methodology does the paper utilize?
The author employs literary analysis and close reading of the text, while engaging with various critical perspectives, such as those of Salingar, Lindheim, and Schalkwyk.
What does the main body cover?
The body covers Orsino’s performative love, the role of social service in relationships, the differing interpretations of Malvolio’s fate, and the comparative analysis of same-sex bonds.
Which keywords characterize this work?
Key terms include Twelfth Night, love, desire, social status, Shakespeare, and gender relations.
Why is Orsino's behavior described as hypocritical?
The author suggests his grief is self-imposed and performative, as he prefers the dramatization of his own feelings over actually pursuing Olivia.
How is the treatment of Malvolio justified in the text?
The paper discusses a divide: some critics view it as a symptom of class struggle and the fear of social mobility, while others attribute his downfall to his Puritanical nature and moral rigidity.
How does the paper differentiate between male and female same-sex bonds?
It argues that Shakespeare portrays male intimacy with a degree of sympathy or normalcy within the period’s context, whereas potential lesbian connections are dismissed as "flatly impossible."
Does the author conclude that the play is a sociological study?
No, the author concludes that it is misleading to read the play as a sociological dissertation, suggesting it is best understood as a subtle psychological portrayal of love in various forms.
- Citar trabajo
- Niklas Manhart (Autor), 2009, The Contrasting Aspects of Love Presented in William Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night", Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/189013
