This paper is concerned with the topical references included in Shakespeare’s comedy Twelfth Night or What you will. Topicality in the context of this paper is defined as all facts included in the play that are supposed to have been of current interest in the Elizabethan Age. For this purpose, the paper will proceed in three steps. First of all, some topical references frequently named by the secondary literature will be presented with special attention to the link established between the play and the several facts. Secondly, it is interesting to ask why some references were included. Taking the facts mentioned above into account, one basic assumption for this step is that playwrights do not only unconsciously mirror reality but do it for special, recipient-oriented reasons. At least one interesting theory developed by Anthony Alridge in his monograph Shakespeare and the Prince of Love. The Feast of Misrule in the Middle Temple will be discussed in this chapter. Finally, the facts discussed until that point will be summarized and questioned once more under another aspect: can topicality be a problem and for whom? That is why some thoughts will be spent on topicality as a problem in Shakespeare’s times and for the recipient in our post-modern days. Even though especially the last question concerning the gap between the horizons of understanding of both periods could be of special note for teachers, e.g., theirs is only little space for this particular topic because of the limitations this paper naturally has to take into account. This is also the reason why only some of the most stressing topical references can be discussed in the course of the paper. A lot of details have to be excluded. So the paper can show only some examples and discuss possible reasons for them.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Topical references in Twelfth Night – a selection
2.1 Geographical references
2.2 Telling names – Orsino and Olivia
2.3 Twelfth Night as a mirror of social concerns – gender and social mobility
3 Topicality as a link between play and audience
4 Conclusion – topicality as a problem
Research Objectives and Core Themes
This academic paper examines the presence and function of topical allusions in William Shakespeare's comedy "Twelfth Night". It explores how Elizabethan contemporary references were woven into the play to engage specific audiences, particularly those at the Middle Temple, and investigates the potential risks that topicality poses for the long-term understanding and reception of the work.
- Analysis of geographical and historical allusions relevant to the Elizabethan era.
- Evaluation of "telling names" and their relationship to contemporary political figures.
- Investigation of social mobility and gender roles as reflected in the play.
- Exploration of Anthony Alridge’s theory regarding the play's performance at the Middle Temple.
- Discussion of the challenges topicality presents for modern audiences and pedagogical approaches.
Excerpt from the Book
2.1 Geographical references
There seems to be a firm agreement in the secondary literature that Shakespeare included a considerable number of topical references within Twelfth Night that deal with geographical explorations. This might be due to the fact that journeys to the edges of the world had an air of adventure for Elizabethan citizens so that one can assume knowledge about such explorations to be spread widely among both large parts of the audience and, of course, the playwrights.
The first reference to be found in the play is situated in one of Fabian’s utterances shortly after Malvolio has received Maria’s letter and dreamt of his future position of power: “I will not give my part of this sport for a pension of thousands to be paid from the Sophy.” Most interestingly, he obviously refers to someone or something entitled “the Sophy”. Furthermore, Sir Toby makes a similar reference later in the play when he talks about the duel between Sir Andrew and Cesario: “They say he has been fencer to the Sophy.” (TN III/4, ll. 283-284) Both utterances refer to a subject of topical interest which took place between 1598 and 1601. Sir Anthony and Sir Robert Sherley travelled to the Shah of Persia’s court. They arrived there in 1599. While Sir Anthony worked as an ambassador for the Shah of Persia and later returned to Europe, his brother “never returned to England and died in Persia.” Anthony did only return to Rome and not to England since the Queen was angry about his expedition: she thought that this journey which took place under the Earl of Essex’s patronage without her consent might spoil her relations to Portugal. Nevertheless, the expedition was made public several times: the first time was in 1598, when a letter of one of Sherley’s companions reached England, the second and third time two publications informed the public about the event – “A true report of Sir Anthonie Shierlies Journey” published in September 1600 and “A new and large discourse of the Travels of Sir Anthony Sherley by Sea and over land to the Persian Empire”.
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: This chapter establishes the metaphor of life on the stage and outlines the research objective to analyze topical references in "Twelfth Night" and their function for the Elizabethan audience.
2 Topical references in Twelfth Night – a selection: This section investigates specific topical allusions, including geographical explorations, the significance of character names, and the reflection of contemporary gender and social mobility concerns.
3 Topicality as a link between play and audience: The author evaluates the theory that the play contained specific "in-jokes" intended for an audience at the Middle Temple to forge a deeper connection between the performance and its spectators.
4 Conclusion – topicality as a problem: The final chapter summarizes how topicality serves as both a tool for satire and a barrier to understanding, posing challenges for the reception of the work in post-modern times.
Keywords
Shakespeare, Twelfth Night, Topicality, Elizabethan Age, Middle Temple, Social Mobility, Gender Roles, Malvolio, Orsino, Geographical Exploration, Anthony Alridge, Literary Analysis, Renaissance Drama, Performance Context, Audience Interaction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper focuses on the identification and function of "topical references" within Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night"—specifically, elements that would have been of current interest or recognizable to an Elizabethan audience.
What are the primary thematic areas explored?
The study examines geographical references, the use of "telling names," social hierarchy, gender dynamics, and the specific historical context of the play's early performances.
What is the central research question?
The author explores how these topical allusions functioned as bridges to the audience and addresses whether this topicality becomes a "problem" for contemporary readers who lack the historical context to understand these references.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The paper employs a literary and historical analysis, synthesizing secondary literature to verify topical allusions and discussing their impact on the play's structure and reception.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The main body breaks down specific topical allusions (the Sophy, Arctic voyages, mapping), interprets character names like Orsino and Olivia, and analyzes the play as an urban satire regarding social mobility.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Topicality, Elizabethan Age, Social Mobility, Middle Temple, and Shakespearean Drama.
Why is the Middle Temple significant to the author's argument?
The Middle Temple is proposed as the likely location for early performances, and the author argues that many of the play's allusions—such as those regarding social advancement—were specifically tailored to appeal to the law students studying there.
How does the author view the character of Malvolio in relation to topicality?
Malvolio is analyzed as a figure who embodies the tensions of social mobility and Puritanical disciplinarianism, serving as a topical jab against those who opposed theater and traditional social hierarchies.
- Citation du texte
- Peter Grube (Auteur), 2007, Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night" - Topicality as a problem, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/83631
