Twelfth Night (Folger Shakespeare Library Edition)
Author: William Shakespeare
Edited: Barbara A. Mowat and Paul Werstine
Publication Date: 1602
Lisandra’s Thoughts:
Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare is set on the twelfth day after Christmas, January 6th, on the coast of Illyria. This day, recognized for Christian celebrations like Three Kings Day, marks the conclusion of the Christmas festivities and traditionally symbolizes a time of revelry and role reversal in Elizabethan Europe. Social roles were often switched, with royals and servants exchanging places, creating a festive atmosphere where genders mingled freely. As noted, “Twelfth Night is the twelfth night after Christmas, the last night of what used to be the extended period of celebration of the Christmas season. Thus it marks the boundary between the time for games and disguisings and the business of the workaday world” (Mowat, xiv). This tradition highlights the societal expectations tied to class and gender.
The play revolves around twins Viola and Sebastian, who are separated in a shipwreck, each believing the other has perished. Disguised as Cesario, Viola enters the service of Orsino, who is infatuated with Olivia, a woman mourning her father and shunning romantic pursuits. Orsino employs Cesario to woo Olivia, leading to an unexpected love triangle: Olivia falls for "Cesario," while Viola secretly loves Orsino. The plot thickens with various suitors vying for Olivia’s affection and the subplot of Malvolio’s revenge. Eventually, Sebastian arrives in Illyria, causing comedic misunderstandings as Olivia mistakes him for Cesario and proposes marriage. The truth is revealed when both twins reunite, exposing the masks they wore.
“Better a witty fool than a foolish wit.” — Twelfth Night, Act 1 Scene 5
Recommendation:
A must-read for those who enjoy themes of gender and sexuality, class and wealth, ambition, forbidden love, and disguise. It’s the perfect choice for anyone seeking a delightful post-holiday read while exploring the intricacies of late Elizabethan England.