The happy ending in ‘Twelfth Night’ is imposed but complete because of fate. Well, did we mention that, after Viola says, "Surprise, everybody! Antonio, arrested in the third act, reappears before Orsino under heavy guard. ©2021 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Last Updated by eNotes Editorial on November 5, 2020. Feste's final song seems to be a perfect ending to Twelfth Night. and then itll be spring break so i will not be ending for a while then. That the play ends with its "lowest" character on stage is appropriate to the inversion of hierarchy associated with the real Twelfth Night festival. Are you a teacher? For example, Trevor Nunn's Twelfth Night, while fun at times, has a very somber ending. SIR TOBY BELCH Why, he has three thousand ducats a year. Rant. star Top subjects are Literature, History, and Arts As all comedies were supposed to end during Shakespeare's day, Twelfth Night ends with a wedding-- or rather, multiple weddings. At first, it would appear that the play is coming to a violent finish. report. Malvolio’s end is similarly unsatisfactory as he becomes enraged at having been tricked with forged love letters, and he storms off the stage, vowing to get revenge. Log in here. Viola (who is disguised as Cesario) falls in love with Duke Orsino, who in turn is in love with Countess Olivia. Shakespeare's Twelfth Night ends neatly because most of the confusion is resolved and the union of the main characters is fairly well established. 175 quotes from Twelfth Night: ‘Be not afraid of greatness. We could however say that “Twelfth Night” fits the comedic criteria set out by Hugh Kelly when he said “The great business of comedy [consists] in making difficulties for the purpose of removing them. Orsino proposes to Viola, now realizing that she is a woman and in love with him. Educators go through a rigorous application process, and every answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house editorial team. You can view our. Twelfth Night Board Game, 1820 Despite his former rejection, Orsino sends his new page Cesario (Viola in disguise) to court Olivia for him. After that, Sir Toby and Sir Andrew come in, accusing Viola of attacking them. Much of the play’s action has been driven by characters pretending to occupy different gender or class positions, and the ending of Twelfth Night brings Viola’s identity to the forefront. The last scene reveals the frail illusions which we bear in the name of love. In this last shot of Feste, the weather looks dismal, cloudy, overcast. Another example, is that in She’s The Man, they put a comedic twist on the ending when all the drama unfolds, marking out the darker tones of the ending in Twelfth Night. MARIA Ay, he. Viola, resigned, prepares to go with Orsino to her death and says that she loves only him. Who are the experts?Our certified Educators are real professors, teachers, and scholars who use their academic expertise to tackle your toughest questions. Already a member? The play centers on the twins Viola and Sebastian, who are separated in a shipwreck. Malvolio, furious at having been pranked, swears revenge on everyone. Twelfth Night Act 2, scene 5. Antonio asks if he may go with Sebastian, but Sebastian refuses this kind request, and is gone. Everything which was so confusing throughout the play concludes almost abruptly. Cesario/Viola fell in love at first sight with her master Orsino, so she goes to court Olivia unwillingly. ” The main characters reach a moment of epiphany in the denouement of the play which leads to a … The play centres on the twins Viola and Sebastian, who are separated in a shipwreck. A Short Analysis of Feste’s Song from Twelfth Night: ‘The rain it raineth every day’. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and others have greatness thrust upon them.’ ... “Journeys end in lovers meeting, Every wise man's son doth know.” ― William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night. Also Know, what … Twelfth Night (also known as Epiphany Eve) is a festival in some branches of Christianity that takes place on the last night of the Twelve Days of Christmas, marking the coming of the Epiphany. One of Shakespeare’s finest comedies, Twelfth Night precedes the great tragedies and problem plays in order of composition. The “Twelfth Night” is no exception to this rule. Look at how they are linked together by love and by power and status. Antonio is a secondary character in Shakespeare's comedy Twelfth Night. This angers Orsino and confuses Viola even further. Twelfth Night "Twelfth Night is a comedy of light and shade. How is Feste characterized in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. How does Shakespeare portray love in Twelfth Night? Twelfth Night Happy Endings in Comedy Many people would say “Twelfth Night” meets the expectations of a comedy due to the presence of features (such as mistaken identity) causing discord throughout the play but these problems are resolved when we reach the denouement leading to multiple marriages. Viola and Sebastian’s reunion resolves the various confusions and deceptions amongst the Twelfth Night characters and restores society-approved heterosexual marriages and class distinctions. Rant. save. Malvolio catches up to Viola, with the ring he was instructed to gi… Firm believers in their zodiac signs and stars – “I thank my stars, I am happy” Malvolio in Act 2, Scene 5 – Elizabethans and Shakespeare were not unfamiliar to destiny. Posted by. It turns out he is Olivia's husband and the one who attacked the two men. Twelfth Night Conclusion Essay by William Shakespeare • The last Act of the play is comprised of one long scene. His ending complicates what is otherwise supposed to be a joyful conclusion. SIR TOBY BELCH Who, Sir Andrew Aguecheek? He accuses Viola, whom he believes to be Sebastian, of ungratefulness in not helping him earlier despite them having known one another for three months. Much of the play’s action has been driven by characters pretending to occupy different gender or class positions, and the ending of Twelfth Night brings Viola’s identity to the forefront. Sebastian, Viola's brother, is shown alive, and in the company of Antonio, a somewhat shady sea-captain who is wanted by Count Orsino for questionable doings on the seas. ... As a comedy, Twelfth Night is obviously... Analyzing Themes in William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night Essay. While Orsino can satisfy his homosexual attraction in a way that is socially acceptable for the time period, Antonio’s apparent love for Sebastian is left unsatisfied as Sebastian marries Olivia. Act Two, Scene Seven’s song by Amiens (“Under the greenwood tree…”) which Jaques and the lords reprise later in the scene. Sign up now, Latest answer posted August 14, 2019 at 8:35:25 PM, Latest answer posted February 27, 2017 at 1:31:26 AM, Latest answer posted April 06, 2019 at 11:45:43 AM, Latest answer posted March 22, 2018 at 5:13:40 PM, Latest answer posted September 08, 2013 at 6:20:39 AM. The last moments of the play resolve the Malvolio subplot. Antonio's Place in Twelfth Night. To make matters more complicated, Olivia continues to reject Orsino but is attracted to Cesario. twelfth night will be the end of me. Even though he decides to add closure by giving us a glimpse of the wedding, he has Feste singing his somber song to end the film. When Viola is revealed to be a noble woman and not a servant boy, Orsino quickly transfers his affections from Olivia to Viola, but he continues referring to Viola as “Cesario” and “boy,” possibly revealing that he actually loves the masculine Viola.