“Twelfth Night is a comedy of light and shade. Its characters are not
unreservedly happy and the events are not unreservedly humorous.” Discuss. As
a comedy, Twelfth Night is obviously intending to not only entertain its
audience but also point out problems in society. It is imperative to entire
merit of the play not to be realistic but to allow for empathy. Therefor to have
a comedy of complete lightheartedness there would be no balance and hence no
avenue for audience interaction. Without light we would have no darkness and for
this reason Shakespeare has had to incorporate tragedy in order for the comedy
to have it’s desired effect. The two in juxtaposition accentuate each other.
The characters of Twelfth Night are neither bluntly humorous nor artlessly
tragic. Twelfth Night like all Shakespearean comedies is largely about social
concerns. The social messages in Twelfth Night are largely about, the need for a
balance in life, that you should not judge on appearance as they can be
deceptive and the importance of self awareness or the humor in lack of. Neither
is artlessly or bluntly humorous, as this would detract from the greater issues
he in attempting to convey. Humor instead is used in contrast to some pain to
antithesis the comedy and accentuate the themes. The plot of Twelfth Night is
comic it explores many social issues in it’s comedy yet is also not
unrestrained in it’s humor. As a comedy Twelfth Night follows, many
conventions as far as structure, the setting is in a far away “romantic”
land, situation, and events somewhat steer the plot however this is certainly
not without art or subtleties. Shakespeare has carefully intertwined comedy and
pain in both the main and the sub plots to highlight the comedy and explore the
social themes. The audience is forced to suspend disbelief that such a
coincidence could occur. The audience is transported from their ordinary mundane
existence and is transported into a world of chance, non-existent penalties for
practical jokes and the unmistakable harmony of events. It is this incongruity
compared to everyday life that is humorous. However, this summer, frivolris
setting is not completely free from conflict. There is however, some
predominately “lighter” characters that serve as comic relief from the more
serious main plot and represent a certain “type” of people in society. Sir
Toby and Sir Andrew would have been marvelously enjoyed by Shakespearean
audiences as they are today. Not a scene goes by involving these to where we can
laugh and the slow wit of Sir Andrew and the awkward puns of Sir Toby. However,
we find the names and foolish antics of these two rather amusing. It is with a
certain hesitance that we laugh at the gullibility of Sir Toby, his
disillusioned love for Olivia is rather somber and balances our opinion of him.
This balances is representative of all the characters in Twelfth Night, they may
be predominately comic yet they are never completely comic or completely
serious. This has the effect on Twelfth Night as making it more true to life and
therefor we as the audience can relate and understand the themes. Malvolio and
Feste are typical examples of characters that are seen as comic, yet when
looking beyond these superficialities we see a far more important role of their
character in the play. Feste, his name and title as a “fool” is careful
balance of light and shade. He is arguably the most intelligent character in the
play and it is evident at the end of the play that he is the most powerful,
because he concludes the play. Feste is certainly a vital link between not only
the main and sub plots but also as a conveyer of the action to the audience. It
is ironic that such wit and wisdom are found in the “fool.” Cesario refers
to Feste as, “This fellow’s wise enough to play the fool: / And to do that
well craves wit.” The obvious key to understanding the themes Shakespeare is
conveying we must closely examine the characters, with which he communicates.
Feste is not a character of low, blunt comedy, his merriment is truthful not
scornful or artless. Act 1 scene 5, “The more fool, madonna, to mourn for your
brother’s soul being in heaven. Take away the fool…” Feste is clever well
balanced and has a keen understanding of himself and others. This combination of
intellect, humor and subtlety effectively conveys the themes of Twelfth Night,
rather than a cruel, crude, unreservedly humorous character that would be not
nearly as potent. Malvolio is a prime example of the need for a balanced,
self-aware person. Malvolio’s name suggests his character, Mal meaning bad,
and volio will. This wicked disposition is his self-deception and lack of
balance and it is this that we find comic not however bluntly humorous. Conflict
between characters is an aspect of the plot that makes it certainly more than
unreservedly humors. However, there are also different levels of conflict in
Twelfth Night. As far as the conventional structure of a comedy goes all
conflict is minor and usually created merely through the suspense. In Twelfth
Night there is conflict concerning who will win the hand of Oliva. Malvolio
through his vanity is easily fooled into thinking it is he who she loves
although she is most otherwise, “O, you are sick of self love, Malvolio, and
taste with a distemper’d appetite.” Another social theme that is not
"unreservedly humorous" dealt with in Twelfth Night is the idea of
self-awareness. Self-awareness is based around being well balanced rather than
excessive, therefor to convey this idea neither the characters nor the plot can
be completely, inadvertently “happy.” Self-awareness is developed by both
Olivia and Orsino; they were both creatures of lavishness. Orsino plunged deeply
into his unrequited almost courtly love for Olivia his verbose, dramatic
language demonstrates this, “If music be the food of love, play on; / Give me
excess of it, that, surfeiting, / The appetite may sicken and die.” This
passionate plea and later exchanges demonstrate Orsino’s developing character.
Initially he is more “in love” with the idea of love. We as the audience and
survey of this activity may find his self-absorption laughable but as he
develops into a well-rounded character, it is evident why Shakespeare portrayed
him in this way. It is vital the believability and credit to the play and it’s
issues that we can emphasize with the characters. To understand why Orsino can
love and marry Viola soon after discovering her identity, Shakespeare has
portrayed him as a man capable of great passion but little sense. Cesario
provides this rational, logical way of thinking and so hence, Orsino becomes
more self-aware. Initially his lack of perception is comic but it is not without
art or intention and so hence not “unreservedly humorous.” Olivia is also a
creature of excess and fraudulent behavior; the mourning of her brother’s
death appears more so for her sake rather than in actual despair of a loss.
Shakespeare has done this by comparing her reaction to Viola’s, a person of
far greater self-awareness. Her character is constantly compared to Viola;
Olvia’s self-absorptive, obstinate character again develops through contact
with Cesario. Particularly noticeable In scenes where feelings are intense, such
as Olivia declaration of love for Cesario, Shakespeare balances this seriousness
and lightens the atmosphere with rhyming couplets. Act 3 scene 1, “I love thee
so, that, maugre all thy pride, / Nor wit nor reason can my passion hide.” The
ironic high comedy is balanced by the pain Olivia is obviously feeling. This
balance of pain and humor to highlight the themes is common throughout the play.
For any character to be completely comic or totally dark would detract from the
greater intentions of the play. Each character comes to a certain
self-realization, however the discovery is not always a happy one. Malvolio’s
self-discovery is not a pleasant journey nor is the ending happy. This ending
that is propitious for some and not for others is another representation of
light and shade in Twelfth Night. If the play was unrestrained in its humor
there would be no art in the play. Without art and wit, Twelfth Night would be
not only boring in its low comedy but also lacking in any substantial themes or
social issues. The fact that the ending is not favorable for everyone, Malvolio
is devastated that the women he was sure loved him does not. Sir Andrew realizes
he has been also duped by Sir Andrew and Feste does not appear totally self
satisfied. Without these sufferings, the Twelfth Night would be superfluous as a
comedy attempting to point out human foibles. Song and music are devices that
are particularly imperative to a comedy. In Twelfth Night music emphasizes the
mood or balances they scene, controlling and manipulating light, and shade for
desired effect. When considering Twelfth Night as a miniature mirror of society
rather than a satire, music becomes an integral part of conveying themes.
Moments of comedy are sometimes juxtaposed with serious, somber music. Such as
when Sir Toby and Sir Andrew are in high drunken spirits, they call for a song
from Feste, Toby : “Lets have a song.” Clown : “… a love song, or a song
of good life?” Toby : “A love song, a love song.” Andrew : “ Ay, ay, I
care not for good life.” The irony of the situation is humorous and through
music, we see Sir Toby and Sir Andrew’s serious side. It may well be seen as
humorous that these two lonesome drunks care for love rather than the good life
they have chosen. The comedy of the situation is tainted by the slight but
penetrating sadness we can see in the two. Music is found in almost all aspects
of the play, from the beginning where music reveals the humor in Orsino’s
“depressing” situation. Through to the final speech in the play where Feste
uses song to speak truthfully about the meanings of the play. “But that’s
all one, our play is done, / And we’ll strive to please you everyday.” The
language of Twelfth Night, its structure and purpose are area where it is
obvious that Shakespeare intended the play, it’s characters and the plot to be
an overlapping indefinite line between light and shade. Maximum suspense is
created by the constant balance, though we as the audience know that as a comedy
all will end well Shakespeare combats this as much as possible. The structure of
the play where two thirds of the play is written in prose, therefore allowing
for punning and word play, it is lively and dynamic which holds audience
attention. Moments of importance are made as obvious to the audience with
rhyming couplets and blank verse. Letters, such as the letter to Malvolio rhyme
to highlight the humor of the situation, “I may command where I adore;
/…/With bloodless stroke of my heart doth gore. “ The language of the play
is manipulated in such a way, it is humorous, but it is balanced and
constrained. Twelfth Night is a comedy, it has humorous aspects, and the plot is
often laughable. However, it is contained through the cunning clever artistic
ability of Shakespeare. Moments of great pain and sorrow are capitalized for
effect. Accentuating the social themes and issues dealt with throughout the
play. Every aspect of Twelfth Night is artistic and controlled; every scene has
deliberate intentions to convey messages to the audience. The play in its
entirety is effective through the careful balance of humor and pain. Twelfth
night succeeds as a comedy because of this careful balance, entertaining its
audience as well as allowing people to examine their own failings. The carefully
crafted characters such as Malvolio help convey and accentuate the themes. Comic
characters are also somber and vice versa. To do this Shakespeare employs many
dramatic techniques, such as humor of situation and character, the true skill of
Shakespeare’s writing is demonstrated when examining his complete control of
comedy within the characters and plot.