Twelfth Night Deception Research Paper

600 Words3 Pages

Twelfth Night Essay
Some people can think that by using deception, they can receive a better outcome. This is almost always not the case. Someone can continuously lie to their best friend without them knowing. Everything may be okay for a while, but once that friend figures out the dishonesty that their relationship is built upon, they will feel hurt and will not trust that person anymore. In the 17th century romantic comedy Twelfth Night, Shakespeare uses the elements of deception to reveal that trust can diminish when individuals lie, thereby, deception can hurt the relationships of once close companions.
Deception is a device that can only cause negative effects. Viola uses deception while hiding her identity: “conceal me what I am, and be my aid for such disguise as haply shall become the form of my intent.” (I.ii.56-58). Viola wishes to be disguised as a man so she can work for Orsino’s court. Shakespeare tells the audience that deception is not the correct way to complete objectives, but most indiviuals do this anyways. Maria and the Fool also create a plan of deception for Malvoliom …show more content…

Malvolio feels betrayed by his fellow court members, and asks, “why have you suffered me to be imprisoned, kept in a dark house, visited by the priest, and made the most notorious geck and gull that e'er invention played on?” (V.i.363-366). Shakespeare shows how lies and deceit can cause a person to not trust others any longer. Individuals may feel that who they thought were friends are not; treachery results in the loss if trust. In the beginning of the novel, Sebastian does not reveal his whole personality to Antonio, which causes a lack of trust between the two. He states, “But I perceive in you so excellent a touch of modesty, that you will not extort from me what I am willing to keep in” (II.i. 11-13). Shakespeare reveals how a lack of honesty can result in the trust between individuals to be