Abstract
This paper compares and contrasts Shakespeare's portrayal of connubial bliss in his comedies "Much Ado About Nothing," "Measure for Measure," and "Twelfth Night." The institution of marriage during Shakespeare's time is examined in detail, including how one decided when one should marry, and to whom, and contrasted to today's notion of marriage. Some of the topics examined include finances, a person's reputation, family involvement, love and honor.

From the Paper
"However, despite the fact that in early modern England, "Most people got married, and most people had children," (McDonald 265), Beatrice and Benedick seem hell-bent against marriage. It is therefore probable that, while it wouldn't strike modern audiences as particularly odd, Elizabethan theatergoers found both Beatrice and Benedick's adamancy against marriage a source of humor and eccentricity in social behavior. When Claudio makes light of his intention to marry Hero, Benedick's immediate reaction is, "Is't come to this? In faith, hath not the world one man but he will wear his cap with suspicion" Shall I never see a bachelor of threescore again? Go to, I? faith, and thou wilt needs thrust thy neck into a yoke, wear print of it, and sigh away Sundays,? (Sundays were the day a man was expected to be with his wife), (Shakespeare, MAAN, I, i, 197-202). Likewise, the Prince, Don Pedro, says of Beatrice, "She cannot endure to hear tell of a husband," (Shakespeare, MAAN, II, i, 347-8)."

Tags:ado, bibliography, cited, comedy, format, homosexuality, love, marriage, measure, mla, money, much, night, shakespeare, twelfth, works

Abstract
This paper explores and compares the psychology of the Ego and masks that are worn by two of Shakespeare's characters; Malvolio(Twelfth Night) and Angelo(Measure for Measure). Using concepts of the Ego laid down by Freud and Jung the author demonstrates how Shakespeare uses this flaw, of imagining oneself as an ideal persona, in both a comedic, and later, tragic play. The paper cites examples from Shakespeare's plays to demonstrate his points. Also, the author references known critics in the field of literary criticism to further elucidate his meaning. The author concludes that by using the Ego as a flaw, Shakespeare created characters that are easy to relate to and provides valuable insight on how to deal with ones mask.

From the Paper
"In C.G. Jung's book, The Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious, he described what can happen to one who is "possessed" by what Freud would call the Super-ego. This is an idea Shakespeare was well aware of. He used the concept in his writing as a means to bring about both comedy and later to develop a more sophisticated plot, with a more developed conflict. This flaw of imagining oneself as an ideal persona is supported by critiques of Shakespeare's comedies. Richmond, states that Shakespeare's comedies suggest, "that we should test higher sentiments against the implication of facts"(p.2). He argues that Shakespeare finds virtue in what might be called compromised relationships and only destructiveness in single-minded commitment to an ideal. This is not because this harsh world will not tolerate ideals, but because ideals are self-destructive. Through the characters of Malvolio, in Twelfth Night and Angelo in Measure for Measure, Shakespeare explores this character theme, and creates, not only internal conflict, but external as well ."

Tags:comedy, ego, english, flaw, jung, literature, measure, pyschology, shakespeare, tragedy

From the Paper
"One of the primary themes in literature and drama examines the issue of appearance versus reality, often in terms of some delusion held by a character or characters. William Shakespeare explores this theme in various ways in many of his plays, and explorations of the issue can be found in Twelfth Night and The Taming of the Shrew. The theme is embodied in both plays in the way certain characters play-act or pretend to be someone they are not, which links the questions of appearance versus reality directly to the drama itself. In the drama, actors pretend to be other people and act out versions of reality before an audience, and both the exploration of the question of what is reality and the way that exploration is presented rely on the contrast between illusion and reality.

Both plays are also love stories, and aspects of love are.."

Abstract
The paper shows how Shakespeare links romantic love with power, greed and politics. It starts with an analysis of "Twelfth Night," discussing how the entire plot focuses on the love interests of the characters. It looks at Shakespeare's suggestion that love - only if politically feasible, is permitted. It looks at the character of Viola and the power issues raised by the fact that she is disguised as a man. The economic compatibility in the final twist of the plot is explored, as are Sebastian's unromantic motivations for marriage. The paper concludes by looking briefly at the theme of love motivated by politics in "Henry V."

From the Paper
"Ah love. It appears to be a rather simple emotion at first glance. You find someone you are attracted to physically, then the attraction grows into affection, and the affection grows into love. The two of you marry, and live happily ever after. Right? It would seem that dear Shakespeare couldn't quite grasp the simpler aspects of love, and marriage, for most of his plays dealing with love are littered with unromantic things like politics, and economic gain. One obvious play is "Twelfth Night," and one less obvious play is "Henry V;" however both show Shakespeare's tendency to link romantic love with less romantic power, politics and greed."

Tags:power, greed, politics, Viola, Sebastian

Abstract
The paper discusses the issue of biological love which plays a weak part in determining how lovers find one another, and how learned behaviors in regards to social norms in males and females deceive proponents of biological instinct. The paper describes how Olivia is quickly fooled by Viola, and the intricate disguise used to veil the sexes is proof of how biology played little in the deception of this play.

From the Paper
"The theme of romantic relationships through a biological and gender-based analysis will be pursued in this study of Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare. By analyzing the various characters that use disguise to shield their true gender identity, it is clear that biology sometimes plays a strong part in how certain characters behave toward one another. However, the gender roles that many of the characters reverse in this play, reveal a strong insinuation that gender is learned and may only be a superficial construct through fashion and social norms. In essence, biology and gender both taken on various forms in this play, but it is clear that gender roles take a greater precedence in Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare. The character Viola is a girl who has been shipwrecked, but has survived to tell the tale through Shakespeare's plot structure."

Tags:gender, shakespeare, night

From the Paper
"Shylock in the Merchant of Venice and Malvolio in Twelfth Night perform the dual role of villain and comic butt. A role is the impersonation of an imaginary character in a story of drama. In drama, the audience must deduce the attributes of these imaginary characters solely by their words and actions. Therefore, when an actor assumes a role, he has the responsibility of making a fictional character credible and vibrantly alive for the audience. Shylock and Malvolio are reprehensible, ridiculous and absurd in their obstinate refusal to harmonize with their social environment. For their failure to conform to the dictates of the world they inhabit, Shylock and Malvolio are punished. However, our alienation from these two characters is modified by the severe treatment they receive from the people around them. Consequently, the roles of Shylock and ... "

Abstract
This paper examines William Shakespeare's comedy "Twelfth Night" and comments on the social context of Elizabethan society and the degree to which revenge is taken upon Malvolio. It looks at how Shakespeare makes fun of the Puritans, whose Christianity opposed the festivities so loved in Elizabethan society in "Twelfth Night" through Malvolio, the stuck-up steward that is totally opposed to fun as festivity. It analyzes the various forms of revenge as devised by Maria, Olivia and Sir Toby and discusses whether their actions do indeed go too far.

From the Paper
"Madness is a continuing theme throughout the play of Twelfth Night. Maria, Sir Toby and Fabian try to trap Malvolio in madness by acting in such a way as to convince him that they are right. Olivia, already distressed by Malvolio's actions towards her, believes that this might be true. In Elizabethan times, it was thought that to cure a mad person, they should be shut in a dark room until their sanity returned to them, and this is exactly what the plotters do in Act 4, scene 2. They treat Malvolio as though he is actually mad, and Feste joins the scheme, disguising himself as curate Sir Topas to torment Malvolio with his quick-witted tongue."

Tags:olivia, sir, toby, maria, revenge, letter, puritan

Abstract
"The Twelfth Night" is an example of how a play can function both as theatrical performance, and as literature. The Twelfth Night is a play based on gender impersonation and openly mocks the assumptions about feminine and masculine behavior or expectation. This paper focuses on Viola, and Olivia, as they are so clearly designed to complement and contradict (even through the names, which are different arrangements of the same letters.) As Viola impersonates the young man with whom Olivia has fallen in love, the differences in how Viola manages to speak as a man are as varied as Olivia's relations for speaking as a woman in relation to men.

Abstract
Shakespeare often used "excess" to deliberately create a sense of imbalance in the play. While in tragedies excess was employed to intensify the emotions of grief and sorrow, this dramatic tool had a different role to play in comedies. This paper shows how, in most comedies, "Excess" was incorporated in order to generate spontaneous laughter but in "Twelfth Night", the playwright had a different motive for employing "excess". The writer shows how Shakespeare has made use of the element of excess in this play specifically to expose the weaknesses of Elizabethan society of 16th century. The paper closely studies the instances of "excess" in this play and discusses the playwright's purpose in this connection.

From the Paper
"THE TWELFTH NIGHT: element of "excess"
"The Twelfth Night" is one of those comedies of William Shakespeare that revolves around the theme of "excess". Excess thus refers to a certain imbalance in the plot which is highlighted though various means including actions, words and emotions. In Twelfth Night, excess has been used intentionally in order to both generate spontaneous laughter and expose the imperfections of English society. Thus we can say that Shakespeare normally uses this dramatic tool to accentuate a particular emotion. In this play, the same intention is present and this time excess has been incorporated to make the play even more hilarious without losing grip on the real purpose. In the very beginning of the play, we notice that the playwright wants his readers to pay attention to the element of excess when his character Orsino says:

"If music be the food of love, play on;
Give me excess of it, that, surfeiting,
The appetite may sicken, and so die." (Act 1 Scene 1)"

Tags:orsino, puritan, english, weakness, society, olivia, viola, malvolio

Abstract
This paper examines how the play "Twelfth Night" by William Shakespeare, is concerned essentially with deception on various levels. It looks at how although deception is often a comic device, in this play it is often a means of deepening the ideas, allowing the audience to explore gender and sexuality, mainly through Orsino and the Viola/Cesario plot.

From the Paper
"With the part of Viola, Shakespeare immediately presents the idea of gender confusion and interchangeability between the sexes. When the play was first performed, the cast would have been entirely male, so by the end of the first scene, the audience is aware that we have a boy playing a girl who is playing a boy on the stage. These levels of ambiguity suggest that gender roles will be important. Shakespeare then continues to explore this throughout the play, through the character of Cesario (Viola in disguise) and his relationships with other major characters such as Orsino and Olivia. Orsino sends Cesario to seduce Olivia on his behalf, and, unfortunately for the duke, Olivia falls in love with Cesario. The reasons for this are dramatised at the end of act one, scene five. Olivia asks Cesario to explain what he himself would do if in Orsino's position of lust towards her, so effectively asking his opinion of Orsino's technique and encouraging him to imagine that he loved her himself."

Tags:cesario, viola, orsino