Twelfth Night Group

Question:

veeriee
veeriee
Student
Graduate School

What is the significance of disguise and false communication in Twelfth Night?

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Posted by veeriee on Friday October 19, 2007 at 10:51 AM and tagged with disguise, false communication, twelfth night.

Answers:


  1. renelane Teacher
    High School - 11th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    The disguises and false communication illustrate that one's appearance is only an illusion. It can be symbolic in that this lets us explore the lack of reality that can be accomplished by keeping up appearances or showing the public what you want them to believe you represent. Although it is a comic perspective, the issues it presents allow for serious analysis.

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    Posted by renelane on Friday October 19, 2007 at 11:29 AM


  2. mvmaurno Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    As a Shakespearean comedy, the main significance and purpose of disguise and false communication in Twelfth Night is to create irony, especially dramatic and situational irony. For example, Duke Orsino hires Cesario (Viola disguised as a man) to woo Olivia for him, and Cesario ends up falling in love with the Duke who, unknowingly, gives this smitten woman personal information one would only give a close friend and confidante, further "lighting her fire". As far as false communication, Malvolio is led to believe through a cryptic letter that Olivia is in love with him. This miscommunication creates irony because Malovolio is so self-centered and vain that he automatically assumes that someone of Olivia's social standing and beauty would be in love with him when she actually has no interest in him whatsoever. In addition, a combination of disguise and false communication help to develop indirect characterization and show us that love may be foolish and transitory and may cause one to be easily misguided.

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    Posted by mvmaurno on Sunday October 21, 2007 at 10:10 AM