Hi everyone, I'm getting utterly desperate. In view of my Literature end-of-year examination tomorrow I shall dedicate this blog entry SOLELY to expounding on Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night". Enjoy.
First I shall provide everyone with a nice, sweet, short version of the story, not in order of scenes. Sister and brother get caught in shipwreck; sister and brother get washed up on different shores, sister dresses up as a eunuch; sister-eunuch goes to work for Count; sister-eunuch helps Count woo a Countess; Countess falls in love with sister-eunuch; Countess hints her love by sending sister-eunuch a ring; sister laments her misfortune, reveals she loves Count;;; Brother ends up with friend on another end of island; friend offers unconditional friendship and love; Brother reciprocates and they go out together (I mean as friends, not -) -
Wait I'm getting lost. Forget the story summary.
"Twelfth Night" is definitely an interesting read, the "prithees" aside. Of course we get the occasional metaphor and allusion ('Will you hoist sail, sir?" / "No, good swabber, I am to hull here a little longer" - exchange of words between Viola and maid Maria; this is an allusion to sailing which was a popular occupation in Shakespeare's time. Viola's reference to Maria as "good swabber" could possibly be either a compliment to her being a good servant or an insult to her that she washes decks). On the other hand, the story is rife with confusion and mistaken identity, an important central theme.
Of course, "Twelfth Night" is more of a love comedy than Alias-turned-sitcom. The continual musings of Orsino on the "high fantastical nature" of love shows what a self-indulgent bastard he is - all he cares about is pitying himself about how he keeps being rejected by Olivia. And Olivia isn't a good girl either - she's just as self-indulgent as Orsino, preferring to extravagantly lament her brother's death by wearing a black veil and mourn for seven years instead of going out to get laid. Look, I know it's nice of you to mourn your brother - but aren't you taking it a bit too far? And you were such a sucker when you forgot all about mourning your brother when 'Cesario' turned up in your life.
Certainly, it is at this point that we realise that Olivia is potentially lesbian. She lusts after 'Cesario''s gentleness and youthness. What about the dashing, manly Orsino who's desperately lusting after your flesh?
You little bitch.
And you sent Cesario that ring, too. You sneaky little witch.
Well, at least you were frank later. You're forgiven.
Next character: Feste. I'm afraid you're the weakest link. Goodbye.
Why must there be a fool in EVERY Shakespeare play? They say it's probably Shakespeare attempting to write himself into his plays. Some also say that these fools prove to people that wisdom lies in folly.
Feste, you're supposed to be omnipotent, or at least nearly omnipotent. I can't believe you didn't foresee that 'Cesario' was a lady in disguise. HAHAHAHA sucker.
Next sucker on my kill list - Malvolio. You absolute, self-important, pompous, arrogant little sucker. You were tricked by the letter all because you're such a self-centred, egoistic FOOL. "M.O.A.I. [...] everyone of these letters are in my name" WHATEVER! The vowels in your name go by this order - mAlvOlIO. HELLO, wake up from your autoerotic fantasies, PLEASE!
Yellow cross-gartered stockings HAHAHAHAHA. -fool-
Ok ok, enough cynicism.
That was fun though.
Really fun.
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