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