Homosexuality in Twelfth Night - 1434 Words

In medieval and Elizabethan England, homosexuality was not only looked down upon, but was a crime punishable by law. Found perpetrators, including the famous King Edward II, were horribly punished. Edward was killed by â€Å"the slow and painful insertion of a red, hot poker into his anus†, along with his lover, who â€Å"had his genitals cut off and burned† (Sanders). Such is the world in which a bisexual William Shakespeare lived. Though he married Anne Hathaway at the age of 18, he was rumored to have had extramarital affairs with numerous men while in London (â€Å"Shakespeare’s Sexuality†). Gay men are present in many of Shakespeare’s plays, most prominently Twelfth Night. A sailor named Antonio falls in love with a man of noble birth named†¦show more content†¦As the guards drag him away, Antonio reproaches himself for being blinded by Sebastian’s good looks: â€Å"[I] relieved him with such sanctity of love, / and to his imag e, with methought did promise/ Most venerable worth, did I devotion† (3.4.375-77). Judging on appearance is one of the most dangerous things humans do. When one sees a person dressed extremely well, one immediately assumes that that person is rich and snobby, a person who takes bread from the mouths of hungry children just to satisfy themselves. On the other hand, when one sees a homeless man dressed in rags, one tries to avoid that person because, in most humans’ minds, at least subconsciously, that person is lower than â€Å"normal† people. This view of humanity greatly restricts our perspective. When Antonio is dragged to the Orsino’s court by his guards, he claims that Viola (whom he thinks is Sebastian) is the cause of all his troubles. Antonio tells the duke his entire story about how he met Sebastian and Sebastians supposed betrayal of Antonio: His life I gave him and did thereto add My love, without retention or restraint, All his in dedication. For his sake Did I expose myself (pure for his love) †¦ Where being apprehended, his false cunning †¦ Taught him to face me out of his acquaintance (5.1.80-88). Such is the fate of a homosexual man in Elizabethan England. He has no rights, no realShow MoreRelatedOthello, By William Shakespeare1543 Words   |  7 Pagessat abaft a screen pretending to be the antithesis sex, or just someone innominate in order to get our true feelings and emotions out. Similarly, Shakespeare utilizes the theme of disguise in countless plays, specifically in As you like it and Twelfth Night. Although many may postulate that he has disguised certain characters as the opposite gender solely for comedic purposes, the reason behind it is significantly deeper and complex. By disguising the actors as the opposite gender, also known as cross-dressingRead MoreShakespeare s Twelfth Night : Gift Exchange, Debt And The Early Modern Matrimonial Economy1321 Words   |  6 Pagesage, society finally accepts homosexuality,other sexual orientations, and gender identity became a more acceptable concept.However, even though it became acceptable once again in the twenty first century. Literature throughout the ages depicted different sexual orientation and gender identification. The play Twelfth Night made produced by William Shakespeare discusses the topics of sexuality during the early 17th century. The articles Gender Trouble in ‘Twelfth Night by Casey Charles agrees thatRead MoreGender Ambiguity : Boys Should Be Girls Will Be Boys And Twelfth Night Essay1649 Words   |  7 Pagescomedies and it is portrayed significantly in both As You Like It and Twelfth Night. Gender is a major theme in the work of Shakespeare which is an issue which has had a significant impact on the criticism attracted to his work for many of his plays, led by feminists in particular. In each of the two plays there is gender ambiguity, mistaken identities and gender blurring as Shakespeare deals with the important issues of homosexuality and bisexuality. Before dealing with these issues it is importantRead MoreThe Brilliant Comedy of Shakespeares Twelfth Night Ess ay1630 Words   |  7 Pagespowerlessness leads to comedy. Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night has central love triangle between Cesario/Viola, Orsino, and Olivia; the excesses and complications within the triangle causes disorder for the characters and audience, and increases hilarity. Shakespeare further confounds the plot by toying with gender-switching, plague imagery, and even homosexuality. The progression of all of these plot devices which are contrary to society’s rules makes Twelfth Night an ideal comedic work because it playsRead MoreHomosexuality : A Platonic Relationship1553 Words   |  7 PagesOne of the biggest debates when it comes to Shakespeare is if homosexuality is present in his works or not. This debate only began in recent decades when the term â€Å"homosexuality† was not seen as completely taboo. Many scholars debate that the â€Å"platonic† relationships between men were really participating in homosexual relationships, which were c overed in many layers of English Renaissance language. These scholars also argue that women during this time were used for two reasons: 1) to cover up saidRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Twelfth Night2005 Words   |  9 Pagesabout the role that gender plays in Shakespeare’s work. Focus on Twelfth Night or King Lear—or discuss both plays together. Do you see these patterns repeated? Or do you see them being challenged and somehow undermined (implicitly or explicitly) in the plots and language of the play s)?† wants to know if Shakespeare wanted to break the pattern of women being passive objects to men in the literature. In the story Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare all of the roles are played by men. In the fifteenthRead MoreMarriage and Twelfth Night1541 Words   |  7 Pages‘At the end of Shakespeare’s comedic plays all complications and disorders are resolved and a new order is generated to the satisfaction of the audience.’ to wha t extent is this true of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night? It is easily argued that Shakespeare’s comedic plays have a similar, formulaic, structure. Dr Schwartz from the California Polytechnic State University  argues that the ‘action of a comedy traces a movement from conflict to the resolution of conflict’. There are many disorders and complicationsRead MoreThe Twelfth Night, By Oscar Wilde1158 Words   |  5 Pagesimmediate needs for the family. However, William Shakespeare’s Olivia, in the Twelfth Night, and Oscar Wilde’s Gwendolen, in the comedy, The Importance of Being Earnest narrative seemingly contradict orthodox gender norms. Olivia and Gwendolen both live in a social construct based on male dominance. Yet both of them upends this norm and play dominant role in both of their relationships. In his play the Twelfth Night, Shakespeare uses Lady Olivia to illustrate the complexities of love and courtshipRead MoreTwelfth Night By William Shakespeare1666 Words   |  7 PagesIn Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, the main story told is of the battle between silliness (Feste, Maria, romance, pranks, and drama) and seriousness (Malvolio, dourness, rules, and stresses of life). One facet of this is gender – the main protagonist Viola presents as male for most of the play. Shakespeare, whether intentionally or not, has shown prime examples of projected identity based on sex, gender roles, and the power associated with each sex. These messages were revolutionary at the time, andRead MoreTwelfth Night, As You Like It by William Shakespeare1153 Words   |  5 PagesPeople would come from all around to feel the way Shakespeare wanted the audience to feel. He wanted to express his life and his way of thinking through his art which was dramatic writing. Shakespeare expresses his love through his plays such as Twelfth Night, As You Like It, Hamlet and many others through his use of wit, humor and dramatic talent. In his life he experienced many ups and downs as we all do. Shakespeare married a women, Anne Hathaway, who was eight years older than he at the ripe age