ipl-logo

Cruelty In Twelfth Night By William Shakespeare

1076 Words5 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Discuss deception in twelfth night

Prompt 1 Cruelty is an element in most works of literature, whether it is floating on the surface, or buried in the depths. In Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare, acts of cruelty such as disguise and deceivement build the plot through the entanglement of love and relationships that can only be resolved if these acts cease. Acts of cruelty occur just beneath the noses of both Lady Olivia and Duke Orsino, but in deep disguise. Though no matter the situation, what hides in the dark must always come to light. A cruel prank on Malvolio, a member of Lady Olivia’s household, initiated in Act II, Scene V is a supposed love letter from Lady Olivia. The prank is carried out by Maria, a servant in the household of Lady Olivia, Sir Andrew Aguecheek, a friend of Lady Olivia’s uncle, Sir Toby …show more content…

Just prior to Malvolio strolling into the garden, the letter is carefully planted by Maria as the men hide to watch Malvolio’s ridiculous reaction. Before even stumbling upon the letter, Malvolio begins thinking out loud, imagining his life if he were to be married to Lady Olivia. He speaks to himself in the garden about how he would call his servants to him, and that he would be Count Malvolio. Finally, he sees the letter. He excitedly picks it up and sees what he believes to be Lady Olivia’s handwriting, though it is Maria’s. He also sees the wax seal that Lady Olivia uses, and this seals the idea in his mind that this letter is from Olivia. He opens the letter and reads all the way through. Malvolio is so self-obsessed, he stretches his imagination, to try and make the content of the letter connect to him. His extremely hubristic ways cause him to wholeheartedly believe that this letter was meant for him, even though the actual chances that Lady Olivia would fall in love with him are so slim. Maria had planted some instructions in the letter, like what Malvolio should

Show More
Related
1614 Words | 7 Pages

It says this in paragraph 2 “Teresa is going to be my girl this year”. Victor was insecure about what he said to her to try to impress her in paragraph 18 & 19 it says “She smiled and said “Hi Victor”. He smiled back and said “yeah thats me.”. His brown face blushed. Why hadn't he said “Hi teresa” or “How was your summer” or something nice.”

Read More
619 Words | 3 Pages

In chapter 3 Minerva gave Maria Teresa her first journal to reflect and write her feelings in the diary, for her first Communion. In the beginning of the journal entries Mate is an innocent little girl that looks up at her big sister

Read More
1103 Words | 5 Pages

Fujiko is given a letter by her daughter Sumiko that is addressed to Hatsue. She reads the contents of the later to discover that is is written by Ishmael Chambers, the hakujin boy from San Piedro island. She confronts Hatsue with the letter, and Hatsue is honest with her mother about the matter. Fujiko tells Hatsue that she does “not know about love.” (Guterson 230)

Read More
642 Words | 3 Pages

Shakespeare’s craft of writing of King Richard’s manipulative and cunning human nature eventually provides the consequences of expropriating power. Shakespear effectively illuminates Richard’s knowledge of the cost of his pursuit of power that has disorientated his remaining humanity which is emphasised by the noun creature in Act 4“ there is no creature loves me and if I die no soul shall pity me”. Shakespear language profoundly conveys the downfall of Richard’s pursuit for power, effectively illustrating the consequences of expropriating power that ultimately conserve the rebirth in power during the War of roses. However rather than conversing with the spiritual and moral corruption of Richard, Pacino provides insight into the psychological wound that Richard experiences providing despair and empathy. Pacino downplays Richard’s sins and actions by blaming them on Richard’s deformity and psychological difficulties that allows the audience of postmodernity to emphasise with a different modern perspective of Richard’s cunning actions that provides understanding of their world.

Read More
647 Words | 3 Pages

Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is about how a feud between two wealthy families is the cause of many problems, but mainly the tragic deaths of the star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet. Throughout this play, many impulsive decisions are made both by the main protagonists and by some side characters. But, the three most impulsive characters are Friar Lawrence, Romeo, and Juliet. By examining these three characters from the play, Friar Lawrence, Romeo, and Juliet, it is evident that these characters acted impulsively, causing suffering for themselves and others.

Read More
528 Words | 3 Pages

Mary goes from being very caring and loving, to being crafty and maternal, to finally being manipulative and victorious. Throughout the beginning of the story, Mary shows the reader how much she truly cares and loves her husband. She constantly asked Patrick Maloney if there is anything she can get him. She offered to get him his slippers, cheese, and also on crackers.

Read More
1389 Words | 6 Pages

Cofer writes “Mama put each of us in Maria’s place by describing her wedding dress in loving detail: how she looked like a princess in her lace as she waited at the alter” (Cofer 20). This puts each of the characters and even the reader in the place of Maria, as she stands at the alter and gets her heart broken. The story tells the reader that they do not want to be in Marias shoes, so they must be careful and cautious with men and who they choose to be their husbands. The story of Maria la loca is an example of letting love control who you want to become. Love is the reason Maria becomes an

Read More
1279 Words | 6 Pages

The letter fools Malvolio, Maria explains that “He will come to her in yellow stockings, and ‘tis a color she abhors; and cross-gartered, a fashion she detests” (2.5.190). Maria likes to have control. When Malvolio disrespects Maria she doesn’t have control anymore, so she takes away his control by manipulating him. Also this illustrates how clever she is, she knows what Olivia does not like and uses it against Malvolio to make him look like a fool. This develops her character to be very manipulative and controlling.

Read More
705 Words | 3 Pages

Marla “ (35). That explains how the narrator is so disturbed by the presence of Marla. The narrator doesn’t really like her

Read More
756 Words | 4 Pages

”(Shakespeare 2.5, ll. 143-146). Malvolio sees these four letters and automatically thinks it means his name because each of those letters are in his name. With him believing that this letter is directed at him, he reads it and it is said to be from Olivia and she confessing her love towards Malvolio. Then, he follows the instructions in the letter and completely embarrasses himself just to win over Olivia.

Read More
729 Words | 3 Pages

Near the beginning of the novel, when Ignatius and his mother are sitting in The Night of Joy bar, the two meet a woman named Darlene. Darlene comments that she thinks Mrs. Reilly must be a good cook, but Ignatius I considerately states, “Mother doesn't coo, […] she burns” (21). Ignatius, with complete disregard for his mother’s feelings, is quick to unnecessarily point out his mother’s flaws. Later on in the story, when Mrs. Reilly reveals to Ignatius that he must find a job because the owner of the house that she hit with her car wants $1,020 for damages, and she will get put in jail if she cannot find a way to pay it, Ignatius responds by ridiculing is mother: “I have found several empty wine bottles about lately, the contents of which I certainly did not consume” (49). Rather than making a small sacrifice and getting a job to help his mother, Ignatius jumps on his mom’s case for her drinking habits.

Read More
1845 Words | 8 Pages

When Olivia is first entertained by the Fool, she recognizes that “[Malvolio] [is] sick of self-love,” revealing Malvolio’s arrogance (Twelfth Night 1.5, 89-92). This arrogance is linked to his Christian self-righteousness when Maria describes him as “a puritan...an affectioned ass…[that] persuaded of himself,...that it is his grounds of faith that all that look on him love him, (TN 2.3, 145-150). Thus, Maria identifies that Malvolio’s self-love is tied up in his piousness, and that he uses his moral superiority as justification for his high opinion of himself. Malvolio takes this pride and sense of superiority further by desiring to be “Count Malvolio,” and imagining Sir Toby “curts[ying]” to him, indicating not only his desire for prestige and power, but his belief that Sir Toby is physically lower than himself because of his “drunkenness,”(TN 2.5, 34, 60-73). Malvolio thus uses his Puritanism as fuel for his actions and desires, imagining himself to be morally superior to Sir Toby and therefore more entitled to a higher social position.

Read More
1909 Words | 8 Pages

The virgin is about to dip the quill and write the last remaining words of the Magnificat. She begins at the beginning of page with the initial " M". The background

Read More
1305 Words | 6 Pages

In Shakespeare’s, Hamlet, revenge plays a major role in how the characters act. They base their actions off of getting revenge. Hamlet, Laertes, and Young Fortinbras all are trying to get revenge for their fathers. All three of the characters use different methods for getting revenge and they all get different results. Shakespeare uses these three characters to show that revenge can consume you and that is all that you want and he shows how harmful it can be.

Read More
2448 Words | 10 Pages

In the Shakespearean comedy The Tempest, we are presented with the psychological violence associated with the abuse of power and continuous theme of colonialism explored throughout the play. In early works of Shakespeare it is evident that the violence interrogated in his plays consists of bloodshed and physical torture as opposed to his later works such as The Tempest where the play focuses on the ideology of psychological violence. The Tempest was one of the last plays written by Shakespeare and is recognised as one of his most popular works

Read More

More about Cruelty In Twelfth Night By William Shakespeare

Related Topics

Open Document