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Twelfth Night Deception Essay

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‘Twelfth Night’ analyses the role of deception that occurs throughout the play in the representation of the nature of appearances and reality. This is evident when Viola disguises herself as Cesario after she’s shipwrecked in Illyria and when Maria hands a letter to Malvolio making him believe it’s written by Olivia.
Representing the nature of appearances and reality played through the role of deception in ‘Twelfth Night’ is notable in Viola’s consistent disguise as Cesario making everyone believe she’s a man and Malvolio’s delusion of believing Olivia wrote the letter to him. This is first supported in Act 3 Scene 1 when Viola and Olivia are having an open conversation when Viola says, ‘Then think you right: I am not what I am.’ It’s communicated …show more content…

Through this technique, the audience knows what’s happening and can interpret that Viola is deceiving Olivia. This is seen as deception by Viola not telling the whole truth about who she is. This is supported by Viola’s appearance as a man but still hiding the truth. Through this quote, it’s conveyed that Viola’s hinting to Olivia she’s not what she seems to be which is leading Olivia to question why Viola is saying this and how impactful Viola’s appearance has been to manipulate the reality of who she is because of her deception toward Olivia. While Olivia is with Viola, Maria hands Malvolio a letter apparently written by Olivia and later Maria states ‘Most villainously. Like a pedant that keeps a school I’th’ church. That I dodged him like a murderer. He does obey every point of the letter that I dropped to betray him.’ In Act 3 Scene 2, the technique of a simile is used. Through the quote, it’s clear that Malvolio has been blinded by the appearance of it which led him to be compared to a pedant through him being deceived by how the letter appeared and is now willing to look at every minor detail to please Olivia. This demonstrates how the deception through the letter affects Malvolio by him not looking at the reality of it and is clear he’s oblivious to

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