Deception And Disguise In Shakespeare's Twelfth Night

Deception and disguise are key themes in Shakespeare’s play Twelfth Night. The conflicts and problematic circumstances the characters find themselves facing are the direct result of deceptive disguises and disguised deceptions. Shakespeare uses disguise, dishonesty, and misdirect to show that there are three sides of a person: their inside, their outside, and the way they are perceived by others. Viola, our shapeshifting protagonist, describes herself as “A blank,” (2.4.109). Are strangers not “blanks” to one another when they first meet? The third side of an individual – others’ perception of them – is the result of this “blank” filling in based on first meetings and first impressions.
“Conceal me what I am, and be my aid, / For such

(3.1.129-35)
In both conversations, Viola gives Oliva a clear message: “I am not what I appear to be.” Furthermore, the second interaction is filled with accusations of misunderstandings and self-deceit. I would argue that Olivia’s perception of Viola settled into place between these two meetings. It is not that her demeanor has changed in that she pushes back less or stands down, it is that she seems to want and expect Viola’s behavior to follow a pre-determined

The prank on Malvolio relies entirely on mistaken identity and it is the letter he finds which deceives him, not any true person. Malvolio must believe he is looking at Olivia’s handwriting and reading Olivia’s words - and so he does, “These be her very c’s, her u’s, her t’s, and thus makes she her great P’s,” “Her very phrases!” (2.5.79, 83). The letter’s true intent – its “inside” – is a vicious prank. Maria disguises its “outside” with false-flattery, false-promises, and general falsehoods meant to charm Malvolio. The prank could never occur, however, had Malvolio’s own perception of what he was reading not aligned with what Maria intended him to believe. After all, if he’d believed “M.O.A.I.” was someone besides himself, or if he had sensed something amiss, he would have no reason to listen to its instructions. It was his own perception and beliefs that led him down his painful path. Later, while imprisoned, Malvolio requests that Feste bring him light, paper, and ink so that he may write a letter to Olivia (4.2.101-02). He still believes in the truth of paper and ink, yet Shakespeare has already connected paper and ink with falsehoods. This connection is further solidified by Malvolio’s conversation partner, a man who has described himself as a “Corruptor of words,” and claims the meaning of any phrase can be easily twisted by an intelligent individual (3.1.10,