Twelfth Night: Context (Edexcel GCSE English Literature): Revision Notes

Shakespeare's Time and the Festival of Twelfth Night:

• The play takes its name from the Twelfth Night festival, celebrated on the twelfth day after Christmas. In Elizabethan England, this festival was a time of revelry, mischief, and the overturning of social hierarchies. Roles were often reversed, and rules were temporarily suspended, which is reflected in the play's themes of disguise, chaos, and ambition.
• The playful and anarchic tone of Twelfth Night mirrors the festive spirit of the holiday, where confusion and disorder were not only accepted but encouraged.

Gender and Cross-Dressing on the Elizabethan Stage

• In Shakespeare's time, all roles were played by men, with young boys taking on female characters. Viola's disguise as Cesario creates layers of ambiguity, as a male actor would have been portraying a woman pretending to be a man.
• This theatrical convention heightens the play's exploration of gender fluidity, blurring the lines between male and female identity.

The Elizabethan Class System

• Social hierarchies were rigid during Shakespeare's era, and the idea of upward mobility was both rare and frowned upon. Malvolio's ambition to rise above his station by marrying Olivia would have been seen as absurd and comedic to Elizabethan audiences.
• However, the play also reflects the festive spirit of Twelfth Night, where these hierarchies could be temporarily challenged, as seen in Maria's successful marriage to Sir Toby.

The Role of Love and Desire

• Elizabethan society viewed romantic love differently from today, often prioritising family alliances and social status over personal affection. However, Twelfth Night reflects a more modern view of love as a chaotic and irrational force, disrupting societal expectations.
• Characters like Antonio, whose love for Sebastian remains unfulfilled, challenge the norms of heterosexual love, suggesting Shakespeare's willingness to explore diverse forms of desire.

Shipwrecks and Adventure in Elizabethan Literature

• Shipwrecks were a common trope in Elizabethan drama and literature, symbolising chaos, transformation, and the unpredictability of fate. Viola's shipwreck at the start of the play mirrors the emotional upheaval and confusion that follows in Illyria.
• The sea was also a symbol of discovery and danger, aligning with England's expansion and exploration during the period.

6. Shakespeare's Comedic Conventions

• Twelfth Night follows the typical structure of Shakespearean comedies, featuring mistaken identities, disguises, and a resolution that restores order and ends with multiple marriages.
• The play also balances light-hearted humour with darker undertones, particularly in Malvolio's humiliation and Antonio's unfulfilled love, making it both entertaining and thought-provoking.