In the time of Shakespeare, the gender roles were established in which a man as over the woman. A woman's role was mostly that of a house woman. They didn't have any power except if their father or husband had died and they had no other relatives. In
Twelfth Night Viola in Act 1 is saved from a ship and has to dress like a man in order to find work in Orsino's court. She wouldn't have been able to work for Orsino unless she dressed like a man. Most of all in this time was that men were believed to be superior to women.
The appearance of the characters is somewhat hard for me to describe except for Malvolio in one scene because they actually describe what he is wearing. We know that the clothes that he is wearing in this scene makes others believe he is crazy, although most of the people who talk about it planned it. The people of this day made appearance everything, at least those who were the upper class. I believe that Orsino is a well-dressed man since he is a lord. Most of the people in the play are well-dressed for their day, but our look at their dress today would make most of us laugh. If you think about it, appearance for our upper class is still viewed the same. They still put a lot into appearance.
This play is a love story that has gotten mixed up. All the characters seem to be falling in love with other characters. It is a love story like
The Magic Flute, but not the same type of love story. It is hard to believe some of the story considering how fast the characters fall in love, but that is our willingness of belief. Shakespeare wants us to believe that the characters are in love. Even though it is hard for us to believe we must have the willingness to believe it.
I must say that I have enjoyed the play's first three acts. The wonderful story about how Viola must dress up as a man and try to seduce a woman for a man that she loves, in which the woman she is sent to seduce falls in love with her. I love the drama in the play.
Good job. 15 points
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