DIR Return Create A Forum - Home
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Twelfth Night Q3 ORB
  HTML https://sjndq3orb.createaforum.com
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       *****************************************************
   DIR Return to: General Discussion
       *****************************************************
       #Post#: 6--------------------------------------------------
       Angela - Act 2 Post
   DIR By: aweber18
       Date: February 15, 2016, 3:05 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       I am seriously wondering about the relevance of Sir Andrew, Sir
       Toby Belch, and Maria. I get the impression that they were
       somehow connected to Olivia and are on her estate, but unlike
       her, they seem focused on drinking, partying, and flirting. Is
       this just for comedic effect? It seems between their fun and
       games there are important life themes incorporated into their
       dialogue. For example, Sir Toby Belch asks Malvolio "dost [he]
       think, because [he] art virtuous, there shall be no more cakes
       and ale?" (2.3.105-6). This makes me think that they are there
       to lighten the mood of the play in contrast to all the grieving
       going on around them. It shows that life requires pleasure and
       fun as well as serious thought. In this way, they are important
       to the tone of the story.
       There's also a little bit of verbal irony in the act, when
       Orsino asks Cesario (Viola) if "[his] eye hath stay'd upon some
       favor that it loves" (2.4.21-2), to which Viola replies, "A
       little bit" (2.4.24). Orsino doesn't know she is talking about
       him, despite the obvious hints Viola keeps dropping. I feel like
       this act changed my perspective on the play--instead of
       portraying men as these strong, fierce, characters, it shows
       that they are more compassionate beings. For example, Viola
       tells Duke that "too well what love women to men may owe...in
       faith, they are as true of heart as we" (2.4.103-4). As Viola is
       incognito as Cesario, the "we" she talked about can be inferred
       to be men. It shows a more flawed, dependent side of man not
       often seen in some of Shakespeare's other plays. She's the Man,
       based off Twelfth Night, also emphasizes a more emotional side
       men have contrary to stereotypical gender roles.
       She's the Man took a lot of inspiration from act 2. In
       particular at the end, Duke quotes the team's soccer coach
       saying, "Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some
       have greatness thrust upon them" (2.5.130-2). This is taken
       verbatim from the play, which makes me think it holds
       significance. In Shakespeare's play, the "greatness" referred to
       the distinction between servants and mistress. In She's the Man,
       it closed the gap between male and female abilities. Both cases
       use different situations to express the same theme: Greatness
       should not be influenced by race, gender, or class; people
       should be treated according to one's individual ability.
       *****************************************************
       Page 1 of 1