1 / 6

The Relationship Between Wit and Social Class in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night

In this thesis, McConnel and Siefkes explore the dichotomy in Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night," focusing on the interplay between wit and social class. They argue that Shakespeare portrays the nobles as foolish and those of lower class as wittier, which complicates the desire for upward social mobility. Through characters like the clever Viola and the egotistical Curio, the study unveils how social status impacts perception and behavior. The analysis questions the fairness of social hierarchies and whether characters like Malvolio and Viola receive their deserved fates.

rene
Télécharger la présentation

The Relationship Between Wit and Social Class in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Twelfth Night: Exposing a Relationship Between Wit and Social Class Richard McConnel and Brynn Siefkes

  2. Thesis Through the use of dichotomy, Shakespeare makes an exegetical comment on a relationship between wit and social class. By presenting Nobles as fools and those of lower class as wits, he problematizes the aspiration for a higher class.

  3. Clever Protagonist Viola: “She loves me sure! The cunning of her passion Invites me in this churlish messenger None of my lord’s ring? Why he sent her none!” (22-24 p. 1206) • Heartsick Egotist Curio: “Will you go hunt, my lord? Orsino: “What, Curio?” Curio: “The Hart” Orsino: “Why, so I do, the nobles that I have. O, when mine eyes did see Olivia first, … That instant was I turned into a hart. And my desires fell and cruel hounds e’er since persue me” (17-22 p. 1190)

  4. Clever Servant Maria: “I will drop in his way some obscure epistles of love…” Sir Toby: “Excellent! I smell a device.” Sir. Andrew: “I have’t in my nose too” (143-151 p. 1210) Sr. Toby & Sr. Andrew Maria • Party Animals Sir Andrew: “Dieuvousgarde, monsieur.” Viola: “Et vousassi. Votreserviteur!” Sir Andrew: “I hope, sir, you are, and I am yours” (70-72 pg. 1220)

  5. Observant Jester Viola: “The fellow is wise enough to play the fool, And to do that well craves a kind of wit” (59-61 p. 1220) Malvolio Feste • Self-Righteous Servant “Fool! Fool! Fool, I say!” (102 p. 1239)

  6. Questions • In lines 366-367, Feste says that somehow everyone gets a chance at greatness, is this fair? • Do you think that Malvolio got what he deserved? Do you think Viola got what she deserved? How does this play into the idea of aspiring for a higher rank?

More Related