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Biographical note
Excerpt
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Twelfth Night is one of Shakespeare’s most popular and important comedies and has inspired adaptations and re-publications across centuries. The theme also generates contemporary interest among the current generation with its focus on the complicated issues of gender, class and same-sex attraction.
Twelfth Night is alternatively titled What You Will, and it is believed to have been written around 1601–1602. Its purpose was probably a production for the Twelfth Night’s entertainment marking the close of the Christmas season.
The eternal love triangle in this drama gives momentum to the plot of the play. Sebastian and Viola are twins who tragically got separated in a shipwreck off the coast of Illyria. Viola, the young heroine of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night is a brilliant example of sound judgement, logic, self-restraint and mature love. By virtue of her moral stature and wit, Viola ranks at par with Portia and Rosalind, two other great heroines in Shakespearean comedies. Each of the twins believes the other dead.
In a twist in the tale, Viola disguises herself as a boy named Cesario and starts working in the service of Duke Orsino, who believes he is in love with the lady Olivia, who however rejects his advances as she is mourning her dead brother. To take his advances further, Orsino sends Cesario, who is actually Viola in disguise, to deliver Orsino’s love letters and to woo Olivia on his behalf. Unfortunately for the Duke, Olivia promptly falls in love with the messenger, Viola. And Viola in turn harbours love for Orsino and thus the love triangle gets completed. This love triangle gets resolved when finally, Olivia changes allegiance and falls in love with Viola’s twin brother, Sebastian. And then to give the tale a happy concluding twist at the last minute, Orsino realizes that he actually loves Viola. Thus, all the affections worked out to everyone’s benefit. Twelfth Night is known to derive much of its comic force by satirical representation of these smitten lovers.
During the course of the play, when Viola’s twin, Sebastian, is rediscovered, it gives rise to a series of comic situations ensuing out of mistaken identity. A satiric subplot acts as a sort of comic interlude as is the permanent feature of most of Shakespearean novels. The members of Lady Olivia’s household, comprising Feste the jester, Maria, Olivia’s uncle Sir Toby Belch, and Sir Toby’s friend Sir Andrew Aguecheek, conspire to undermine the self-important, pompous Malvolio, the steward of Lady Olivia, by placing a love letter allegedly written by Olivia to Malvolio. The letter spells a bout of ridiculous disaster whereby it urges Malvolio to show his affection for Olivia by smiling continuously and dressing himself in cross-garters and yellow, a colour and fashion that Olivia is known to despise.
Malvolio is suitably flustered but starts acting as per the directions of the letter which shocks Olivia enough to make her abandon Malvolio in the care of his conspirators. Malvolio goes through the trauma of being locked up in a dark chamber for a time as a supposed madman. The fate ironically suited one who thoroughly projected himself as an apostle of sombreness and restraint.
The temporary punishment of banishment that Malvolio faces is due to his untoward animosity toward merriment. This poses a challenge to the merrymakers and to the more serious characters in the play. A clear message goes that we should learn to embrace life’s joys before they are lost. Malvolio ends up being the only solitary figure among the pairs of happy lovers.
The comedy is in five acts and the main theme is romance revolving around a few unique characters who go through a mixed emotional trauma to find their true love, and suffering the pain arising out of disguise and betrayal by fellow humans.
Twelfth Night is one of Shakespeare’s most popular and important comedies and has inspired adaptations and re-publications across centuries. The theme also generates contemporary interest among the current generation with its focus on the complicated issues of gender, class and same-sex attraction.
Twelfth Night is alternatively titled What You Will, and it is believed to have been written around 1601–1602. Its purpose was probably a production for the Twelfth Night’s entertainment marking the close of the Christmas season.
The eternal love triangle in this drama gives momentum to the plot of the play. Sebastian and Viola are twins who tragically got separated in a shipwreck off the coast of Illyria. Viola, the young heroine of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night is a brilliant example of sound judgement, logic, self-restraint and mature love. By virtue of her moral stature and wit, Viola ranks at par with Portia and Rosalind, two other great heroines in Shakespearean comedies. Each of the twins believes the other dead.
In a twist in the tale, Viola disguises herself as a boy named Cesario and starts working in the service of Duke Orsino, who believes he is in love with the lady Olivia, who however rejects his advances as she is mourning her dead brother. To take his advances further, Orsino sends Cesario, who is actually Viola in disguise, to deliver Orsino’s love letters and to woo Olivia on his behalf. Unfortunately for the Duke, Olivia promptly falls in love with the messenger, Viola. And Viola in turn harbours love for Orsino and thus the love triangle gets completed. This love triangle gets resolved when finally, Olivia changes allegiance and falls in love with Viola’s twin brother, Sebastian. And then to give the tale a happy concluding twist at the last minute, Orsino realizes that he actually loves Viola. Thus, all the affections worked out to everyone’s benefit. Twelfth Night is known to derive much of its comic force by satirical representation of these smitten lovers.
During the course of the play, when Viola’s twin, Sebastian, is rediscovered, it gives rise to a series of comic situations ensuing out of mistaken identity. A satiric subplot acts as a sort of comic interlude as is the permanent feature of most of Shakespearean novels. The members of Lady Olivia’s household, comprising Feste the jester, Maria, Olivia’s uncle Sir Toby Belch, and Sir Toby’s friend Sir Andrew Aguecheek, conspire to undermine the self-important, pompous Malvolio, the steward of Lady Olivia, by placing a love letter allegedly written by Olivia to Malvolio. The letter spells a bout of ridiculous disaster whereby it urges Malvolio to show his affection for Olivia by smiling continuously and dressing himself in cross-garters and yellow, a colour and fashion that Olivia is known to despise.
Malvolio is suitably flustered but starts acting as per the directions of the letter which shocks Olivia enough to make her abandon Malvolio in the care of his conspirators. Malvolio goes through the trauma of being locked up in a dark chamber for a time as a supposed madman. The fate ironically suited one who thoroughly projected himself as an apostle of sombreness and restraint.
The temporary punishment of banishment that Malvolio faces is due to his untoward animosity toward merriment. This poses a challenge to the merrymakers and to the more serious characters in the play. A clear message goes that we should learn to embrace life’s joys before they are lost. Malvolio ends up being the only solitary figure among the pairs of happy lovers.
The comedy is in five acts and the main theme is romance revolving around a few unique characters who go through a mixed emotional trauma to find their true love, and suffering the pain arising out of disguise and betrayal by fellow humans.
What many of us would find interesting is that the extremely famous English playwright, poet and actor William Shakespeare’s real name was something else. And most of us are not aware of it even after almost breathing and living Shakespeare for years. It was Gulielmus Shakspere, as has been recorded at his baptism in 1564. Gulielmus is the Latin word for William. But then why would we call him William Shakespeare! It is because Shakespeare called himself ‘Will’ in his Sonnets and most of his associates referred to him as William Shakespeare.
William Shakespeare is believed to have been born on 23 April even though baptised on 26 April 1564. He is considered the greatest writer ever in the history of English language and his reputation as the world’s pre-eminent dramatist goes unrefuted. The millions of Shakespeare followers all across the world have for ages referred to him as England’s national poet and the Bard of Avon. His huge gamut of works of different genres combined, including the collaborations with contemporary authors, include about 39 plays, 154 sonnets, three long narrative poems, and other verses.
Shakespeare is said to be one of the top three greatest translated authors in all human history after Agatha Christie and Jules Verne. Shakespearean plays have been translated into almost every major living language and they are performed more frequently on stage compared to all other playwrights that the world has ever produced. His influence in the world English language is incomparable, and his works are read with the same enthusiasm, emotion and interest even in the modern age. They were never out of fad or fashion and were never shunned in any period of literary history. Critics and researchers are ever passionate to unfurl new levels of meanings and emotions, intent and depth as they continue to study and reinterpret his vast treasure of creative jewels.
Shakespeare was born and brought up in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire. He is believed to have left Stratford upon Avon in the late 1580s and moved to London. Though the exact address is not known, the first evidence that we get of his living in London is somewhere in Bishopsgate in 1596 nearby Leadenhall Street and St. Mary Avenue. At the age of 18, he married Anne Hathaway, who was 26 years old at that time and three months pregnant with Shakespeare’s first child. Thus, their first child, Susanna, was born six months after their marriage. They had two more children, a son, Hamnet, who died in 1596, and another daughter, Judith. His only granddaughter Elizabeth, daughter of Susanna, died childless in 1670 leaving no descendants to his family.
At age 49, approximately around the year 1613, he is said to have retired to Stratford, where he died three years later. Very few records of his private life can be found. We do not know much about his private life, his religious beliefs and sexuality. There is some controversy regarding the fact whether all his works have been originally produced by him.
Most of his known works were written between 1589 and 1613. His comedies and histories are regarded as the world’s best ever works produced. He also wrote quite a handful of heart-wrenching tragedies until 1608, among which Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet are among the finest and most poignant works in the English language. His collection of 17 great comedies includes The Merchant of Venice and Much Ado About Nothing and of his 10 history plays, Henry V and Richard III rightfully deserves mention.
The greatness of his plays had been proven by the fact that Shakespeare and his theatre company had the privilege to perform before both Queen Elizabeth I and James I, who were both enthusiastic patrons of his creativity. Shakespeare’s close connection with King James I was known. The King designated the actors of Shakespeare’s company as ‘Grooms of Chamber’. Following this, Shakespeare changed the company’s name from the ‘Lord Chamberlain’s Men’ to the ‘King’s Men’ which went a long way to make him a favourite with the King. He thus made a good headway for being a desired artist for all performances at the royal court.
Shakespeare was not only an immensely talented composer of plays and sonnets, but he was also an accomplished actor who performed in many of his own plays along with the plays by other playwrights. Early evidence suggests that he played the role of a ghost in Hamlet and Adam in As You Like It.
The mystery and enigma surrounding this great name doesn’t cease to exist even after his death. Amusingly and interestingly, Shakespeare had penned a curse for his grave, keeping miscreants, who dares to move his body from the final resting place, at bay. His epitaph says:
Good friend for Jesus’ sake forbear,
To dig the dust enclosed here:
Blest be the man that spares these stones,
And curst be he that moves my bones.
And though it was customary to dig up the bones from older graves to accommodate new ones, the remains of Shakespeare’s grave are still intact, left undisturbed. Guess the threat of curse worked out nicely for his bodily remains.
Books that Speak to us Across Time
Books have a magical and timeless appeal. They inform, educate and entertain us. We love and cherish the books we grow up with, and explore the fascinating world they present all through our lives.
Trove seeks to preserve the tradition of reading by publishing books from the past. It is a treasure chest of the most precious works across various genres. Our vision is to keep alive works that have stood the test of time and pass them on to the next generation of readers.
Readers can browse and purchase titles in the Trove collection, gleaned from the huge ocean of treasured writings in the public domain, and republished. What’s more, Trove books can be read on paper or screen as they are available in a variety of formats.
Trove goes to great lengths to recover and refurbish old content, so readers can discover them in all their glory. Some treasures are indeed found not in caves but between the covers of a book.
Books that Speak to us Across Time
Books have a magical and timeless appeal. They inform, educate and entertain us. We love and cherish the books we grow up with, and explore the fascinating world they present all through our lives.
Trove seeks to preserve the tradition of reading by publishing books from the past. It is a treasure chest of the most precious works across various genres. Our vision is to keep alive works that have stood the test of time and pass them on to the next generation of readers.
Readers can browse and purchase titles in the Trove collection, gleaned from the huge ocean of treasured writings in the public domain, and republished. What’s more, Trove books can be read on paper or screen as they are available in a variety of formats.
Trove goes to great lengths to recover and refurbish old content, so readers can discover them in all their glory. Some treasures are indeed found not in caves but between the covers of a book.
1. Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
2. Arms and the Man by George Bernard Shaw
3. The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells
4. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
5. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
6. David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
7. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
8. A Portrait of the Artist As a Young Man by James Joyce
9. The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot
10.The Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy
11.Moby Dick or The Whale by Melville Herman
12.Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
13.Animal Farm by George Orwell
14.Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne
15.War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
16.She Stoops to Conquer by Oliver Goldsmith
17.Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
18.The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
19.Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
20. Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome
Visit us: www.trovebooks.in
Phone: +91-72002 58368
1. Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
2. Arms and the Man by George Bernard Shaw
3. The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells
4. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
5. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
6. David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
7. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
8. A Portrait of the Artist As a Young Man by James Joyce
9. The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot
10.The Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy
11.Moby Dick or The Whale by Melville Herman
12.Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
13.Animal Farm by George Orwell
14.Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne
15.War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
16.She Stoops to Conquer by Oliver Goldsmith
17.Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
18.The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
19.Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
20. Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome
1. Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
2. Arms and the Man by George Bernard Shaw
3. The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells
4. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
5. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
6. David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
7. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
8. A Portrait of the Artist As a Young Man by James Joyce
9. The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot
10.The Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy
11.Moby Dick or The Whale by Melville Herman
12.Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
13.Animal Farm by George Orwell
14.Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne
15.War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
16.She Stoops to Conquer by Oliver Goldsmith
17.Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
18.The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
19.Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
20. Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome
Visit us: www.trovebooks.in
Phone: +91-72002 58368
Twelfth Night: or, What You Will
by
William Shakespeare
Newgen Knowledge Works Offices
Chennai Pondicherry Pune Kottayam Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)
Leipzig (Germany) Amsterdam (Netherlands) Stroud (UK) Texas (USA)
Twelfth Night: or, What You Will
by
William Shakespeare
Newgen Knowledge Works Offices
Chennai Pondicherry Pune Kottayam Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)
Leipzig (Germany) Amsterdam (Netherlands) Stroud (UK) Texas (USA)
First published in 1616 by Simon & Schuster
This book has been inspired from the original version of Twelfth Night first published in 1616, available in the public domain. Due care and diligence have been taken while bringing out this edition; neither the author nor the publishers of the book hold any responsibility for any mistake that may have inadvertently crept in. The publishers shall not be liable for any direct, consequential, or incidental damages arising out of the use of the book.
© Trove Books Edition, 2023
Paperback ISBN: 978-81-19222-02-5
eBook ISBN: 978-81-19222-22-3
WebPDF: 978-81-19222-04-9
Published by
Trove Books
Imprint of M/S Newgen KnowledgeWorks (P) Ltd
2/579, Singaravelan Street
Chinna Neelankarai
Chennai – 600 041
India
Call: 91-72002 58368
