“One face, one voice, one habit, and two persons! / A natural perspective, that is and is not.” An image which seems to dominate William Shakespeare's play "Twelfth Night or What you will". It is said that "Twelfth Night" presents a vision of female erotic desire and constant amity through 'structural imagination' of theatrical cross-dressing. An aspect which seemed to be a taboo in the Elizabethan England due to the fact that identity, class and society where very important at this time.
Shakespeare's staging of "Twelfth Night" is therefore described as a conflict between represented and representing bodies but also the presence of a single body in a double aspect. Within this imagine of cross-dressing the aspect of desire toward the same sex is mentioned and produces a confusion. The fact that the main protagonist, Viola, is disguised as a man, triggers a certain confusion which is recognized throughout the whole play. Her gender role in the society and her relation to the other characters, especially the relation to Orsino and Olivia is questioned.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Definition of Gender according to Judith Butler's Gender Theory
2.1 Concept of Gender Performativity
2.2 Heteronormative Society
3. Two opposed Characters in one Person
3.1 Connection of female and male markers represented by Viola
3.2 Violas Gender Performance with respect to the Concept of Gender Performativity
4. Same sex love in Twelfth Night
4.1 Male friendship, focusing Antonio and Sebastian
4.2 Love Triangle
4.2.1 Olivia and Viola
4.2.2 Viola and Orsino
4.2.3 Orsino and Olivia
4.3 The Effect of Viola's Disguise
4.4 Legal marriage as the Solution
5. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
The work investigates how the protagonist Viola’s gender identity in Shakespeare’s "Twelfth Night" is influenced by her disguise as Cesario, specifically analyzing this through the lens of Judith Butler’s gender theory and the societal pressures of the Elizabethan era.
- Application of Judith Butler’s concept of gender performativity to literary characters.
- Analysis of male and female marker intersections within Viola’s dual identity.
- Exploration of same-sex love and "homoerotic" dynamics in the play.
- Evaluation of how heteronormative societal norms force resolution through traditional marriage.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1 Connection of female and male markers represented by Viola
After the shipwreck Viola believes her brother to be dead and therefore decides to dress up as a man to convince, Orsino, the duke of Illyria, to employ her.
I prithee, and I'll pay thee bounteously, / Conceal me what I am, and be my aid/ For such disguise as haply shall become / The form of my intent. I'll serve this duke: / Thou shall present me as an eunuch to him; / It may be worth thy pains, for I can sing / And speak to him in many sorts of music, ( I,2,52-58)
Her disguise as a man first and foremost is characterised by the change of her appearance which is rather male than female. This becomes clear in the first act at the beginning of scene four, where the instructions tell the reader that Viola appears in man's cloth. “Viola in man´s attire “ (I,4) and even is addressed as Cesario, the name she has given herself as a male characteristic. To keep her imagine as a man upright, Viola even entitles herself as a gentleman in front of Olivia. “I am a gentleman.“ (I,5,263) and Olivia is convinced by Viola/Cesario's looks and actions because she replies “I'll be sworn thou art; / Thy tongue, thy face, thy limbs, actions, and spirit, / Do give thee five-fold blazon.” (I,5,275-277)
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Presents the central conflict of "Twelfth Night" regarding identity and cross-dressing, framing the thesis through Judith Butler and Stephen Greenblatt.
2. Definition of Gender according to Judith Butler's Gender Theory: Explains key concepts like performativity and the heterosexual matrix to establish a theoretical framework for analyzing gender.
3. Two opposed Characters in one Person: Analyzes how Viola’s performance acts as a bridge between male and female markers, challenging fixed identities.
4. Same sex love in Twelfth Night: Investigates the homoerotic subtexts in the relationships between Antonio/Sebastian and the complex dynamics of the love triangle.
5. Conclusion: Summarizes how Viola’s disguise causes a temporary breakdown of heteronormative norms that is ultimately resolved through marriage.
Keywords
Twelfth Night, William Shakespeare, Judith Butler, Gender Performativity, Cross-dressing, Gender Identity, Heteronormative Society, Same-sex love, Homoeroticism, Marriage, Cesario, Viola, Orsino, Olivia, Sebastian
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this academic work?
The work focuses on analyzing the gender identity of Viola in Shakespeare’s "Twelfth Night" and how her cross-dressing creates confusion regarding gender roles and societal norms.
Which theoretical framework is applied?
The analysis primarily utilizes Judith Butler's gender theory, specifically her concepts of gender performativity and the heteronormative matrix, alongside Stephen Greenblatt's interpretations.
How is gender defined in this study?
Following Judith Butler, gender is defined as a performance rather than a natural, fixed identity, heavily influenced by societal norms and external effects.
What is the role of the "love triangle" in the play's interpretation?
The love triangle serves as a central plot device that forces characters into confusing situations, highlighting the instability of gender-based desire in the play.
Why is marriage discussed as a solution?
Marriage is analyzed as the mechanism by which the society in "Twelfth Night" restores its natural order and heteronormative structure after the chaos caused by Viola's disguise.
What is the significance of the male friendship mentioned?
The relationship between Antonio and Sebastian provides a lens to discuss homoerotic desires that existed at the periphery of the play's main romantic plot.
How does Viola’s disguise affect her internal sense of self?
The disguise provides Viola with new opportunities but also creates internal conflict, as she struggles to reconcile her performative male identity with her inner feelings and female desire.
Does the play ultimately support or challenge traditional gender roles?
The paper argues that while the play presents an "alternative system" of gender performance, it ultimately restores traditional heteronormative roles through the resolution of legal marriage.
- Quote paper
- Emilie Platt (Author), 2017, The Effect of Viola's Disguise on the Society of "Twelfth Night" by William Shakespeare, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/420478
