Stephanie Smith's Dissertation

[mcf]

Hi,

If you have any questions please ask them here.

Hope this helps. ;D

[mcf]

Themes

True love sees the soul. True love requires recognition of the noble inner qualities of the beloved as well as the outward qualities. Duke Orsino thinks he loves Olivia. But it soon becomes apparent that he loves her primarily for her beauty, not her nobility of soul. In other words, he is infatuated with her looks and charm. However, he gradually falls in love with Viola after her inner qualities emerge while she is disguised as a man. His love for her is not complete until she doffs her disguise and reveals that she is a beautiful woman. Orsino then loves her heart, soul, and body—that is, spiritually and physically. Olivia's love for Sebastian evolves in a similar way. She begins by admiring Sebastian's noble qualities as mirrored by his twin sister Viola, disguised as the male messenger Cesario. But her love is incomplete until Sebastian arrives with the same noble qualities of Viola—but in a male body.
Love (brotherly and romantic) is foolish at times. For example, Olivia goes to ridiculous lengths to mourn her dead brother, then falls in love with Viola disguised as a man. Pompous Malvolio, meanwhile, wears yellow stockings with crossed garters to woo Olivia.
Love vexes and presents pitfalls. Orsino, Viola, and Olivia, undergo distress and suffer setbacks of one kind or another before being united with his or her beloved. Malvolio, of course, falls into a pitfall and never gets out.
Love ultimately triumphs. Despite all the obstacles they face, people in love eventually unite through persistence.
Appearances and first impressions can be deceiving. Outward appearances and first impressions mislead the main characters in one way or another—until the truth surfaces in Act V.
Carpe diem (seize the day). Feste chides his employer, Olivia, for continuing to mourn for her brother long after he is dead. He realizes that one of the main purposes of life is to live. In a song he sings for Sir Toby Belch and Sir Andrew Aguecheek, he sums up his philosophy:

What is love? 'tis not hereafter;
Present mirth hath present laughter;
What's to come is still unsure:
In delay there lies no plenty;
Then come kiss me, sweet and twenty,
Youth's a stuff will not endure. (2.3.23)
Satirizing Puritanism
.......Priggish Malvolio becomes the brunt of a practical joke after he attempts to interdict the merriment of Feste, Aguecheek, and Sir Toby Belch. It appears that Shakespeare intended to use Malvolio to satirize the somber spirit of Puritanism during the Elizabethan era. In fact, the characters in the play openly refer to him as a Puritan, as in this dialogue:

MARIA Marry, sir, sometimes he is a kind of Puritan.
SIR ANDREW O, if I thought that I'ld beat him like a dog!
SIR TOBY BELCH What, for being a Puritan? thy exquisite reason, dear knight?
SIR ANDREW I have no exquisite reason for't, but I have reason good enough.
MARIA The devil a Puritan that he is, or any thing constantly,
but a time-pleaser; an affectioned ass, that cons state without book
and utters it by great swarths: the best persuaded of himself,
so crammed, as he thinks, with excellencies, that it is his grounds
of faith that all that look on him love him; and on that vice in him
will my revenge find notable cause to work. (2.3.151-160)
.......Olivia's servant, Fabian, also bemoans Malvolio as a killjoy. After Sir Toby Belch asks Fabian whether he would enjoy shaming Malvolio in some way, Fabian replies, "I would exult, man: you know, he brought me out o'/ favour with my lady about a bear-baiting here" (2.5.6-7). Bear-baiting was a popular bloodsport in Shakespeare's London. In Act III, Scene II, Aguecheek denounces Puritanism in general when he says, "I had as lief be a Brownist as a politician" (3.2.28). A Brownist was a follower of Robert Browne (1550-1633), a Puritan leader.
Ingredients of the Comedy

.......Shakespeare mixes Twelfth Night with a potpourri of ingredients to achieve his comic effect—a set of twins, some situation comedy, a dash of dramatic irony, a dollop of romance, three boisterous merrymakers, and a puritanical sourpuss. Following is an explanation of how Shakespeare uses these ingredients:

The Twins

Viola and her brother, Sebastian, are twins—born about an hour apart—who survive a shipwreck. When they cannot find each other, each thinks the other may be dead. Then they go their separate ways, establishing two story lines that undergird plot surprises later involving mistaken identities.

Situation Comedy

Viola complicates the plot after she disguises herself as a young man, calling herself Cesario, and obtains employment as a page with Duke Orsino. When she acts as a go-between to help the duke woo Olivia, Viola begins to fall in love with the duke while Olivia begins to fall in love with Viola, thinking “him” a handsome young fellow. Thus, the play takes on the characteristics of a modern situation comedy. Realizing her predicament, Viola says that

my master loves her [Olivia] dearly;
And I, poor monster, fond as much on him;
And she, mistaken, seems to dote on me.
What will become of this? As I am man,
My state is desperate for my master's love;
As I am woman,—now alas the day!—
What thriftless sighs shall poor Olivia breathe!
O time! thou must untangle this, not I;
It is too hard a knot for me to untie! (2.2.24-32)
Dramatic Irony
.......Dramatic irony occurs when a character in a play, novel, film, or any other work is unaware of plot developments or background information known to the audience. In Twelfth Night, Shakespeare uses dramatic irony numerous times. A memorable example it begins with Line 22 in Act I, Scene II, when Duke Orsino notices that Viola (disguised as Cesario) seems preoccupied. It is, of course, budding love for the duke that preoccupies her. Although she comes close to giving away her feelings, Orsino remains dumb to the cause of her distraction. Here is the dialogue in which they engage:

DUKE ORSINO...My life upon't, young though thou art, thine eye
Hath stay'd upon some favour that it loves:
Hath it not, boy?
VIOLA...A little, by your favour.
DUKE ORSINO...What kind of woman is't?
VIOLA...Of your complexion.
DUKE ORSINO...She is not worth thee, then. What years, i' faith?
VIOLA...About your years, my lord. (2.4.23-30)
Another example of dramatic irony occurs when Olivia declares her love for the disguised Viola in Act III, Scene I:
Cesario, by the roses of the spring,
By maidhood, honour, truth and every thing,
I love thee so, that, maugre3 all thy pride, .
Nor wit nor reason can my passion hide.
Do not extort thy reasons from this clause,
For that I woo, thou therefore hast no cause,
But rather reason thus with reason fetter,
Love sought is good, but given unsought better. (3.1.115-122)
Romance
.......The love bug bites not only Viola, Orsino, and Olivia but also Viola’s brother, Sebastian, along with Sir Toby Belch and Maria—and even priggish Malvolio. However, Malvolio is more in love with himself than with Olivia.

The Merrymakers and Malvolio

.......The adventures of Sir Toby Belch, Sir Andrew Aguecheek, and Feste the Fool provide rousing comic interludes between the other parts of the play. Especially delightful is the trick the threesome play on dour Malvolio—with the help of Maria—in which they convince him that Viola loves him. Malvolio helps make the play work; he is the gray cloud that blocks the sunlight and evokes cheers when he passes.

Allusions

.......As in most of his plays, Shakespeare frequently uses allusions (indirect references to mythical, biblical, or historical persons, events, things, or ideas). Twelfth Night provides an excellent opportunity for instructors to teach allusions, for the play abounds in them. Following are examples of allusions in the play, as well as direct references to persons, places, things, or ideas.

Arion (1.2.17-19): Greek musician rescued by a dolphin after sailors stole his money and ordered him to jump overboard.
Candy (5.1.55): Corruption of Candia, the former name of the capital of Crete, Iráklion.
Bennet, Saint: Saint Benedict, a church in London.
Brownist (3.2.14): Follower of Robert Browne, a Puritan extremist who advocated separation from the Church of England and demanded freedom from government interference. He was jailed more than thirty times for his activities. In this line, Sir Andrew Aguecheek, who has designs on Viola, is responding to a suggestion that he use either valor or political skill to win Viola. His sarcastic remark, a form of verbal irony with the allusion to Puritan extremism, makes it clear he prefers being valorous to being political.
cockatrice: mythological serpent that could kill with the glare of its eyes.
Diana (1.4.31): Roman name for Artemis, virgin goddess of the moon and the hunt in Greek mythology.
diliculo surgere: (2.3.2) First two words of a Latin proverb: 'Diluculo surgere saluberrimum est (Rising at dawn makes a man healthy).
Egyptian thief (5.1.121): Thyamis, an Egyptian robber who stood ready to kill his captive, Chariclea, to prevent enemies from taking her. In Shakespeare's play, Duke Orsino compares himself with Thyamis and Olivia with Chariclea when Olivia rejects him.
Elysium (1.2.3): Paradise.
golden shaft (1.1.14): Arrow shot by the god of love. His Roman name is Cupid; his Greek name is Eros.
Jezebel (2.4.36): Wife of Ahab, king of Israel.
Jove (1.5.113): Roman name for the Greek king of the gods, Zeus. The Romans also called him Jupiter.
Legion (3.4.85) Name of devils possessing a man in the New Testament ( Mark 5:1-19).
Lethe (4.1.62): In Greek mythology, the river of forgetfulness in Hades.
Mercury (1.5.83) Messenger god in Greek mythology. He was also associated with lying and deception. In this line ("Now Mercury indue you with leasing"), Feste asks that Mercury give Olivia the ability to lie convincingly.
metal of India (2.5.14): Gold.
Mall (1.3.127): Possibly a reference to a prostitute or another name for Mary.
Pandarus (3.1.51): In Greek mythology, a Lycian who takes part in the Trojan War. He acts as a go-between in a love affair between Troilus and Cressida. The English word panderer (procurer, pimp) is derived from the name Pandarus.
pavan (5.1.193): Pavan, a slow dance popular at the court of sovereigns.
Penthesilea (2.4.156): In Greek mythology, the Queen of the Amazons, a race of tall, warlike women. Sir Toby uses this name ironically to call attention to Maria's smallness.
Pythagoras (4.2.50): Greek mathematician and philosopher who believed in the transmigration of souls.
renegado (3.2.70): Christian who becomes a heathen.
Sir Topas (4.2.2): Comic protagonist in Geoffrey Chaucer's Rime of Sir Topas.
Sophy (2.5.181): Name applied to a Persian shah (ruler).
tray-trip (2.5.190): Dice game.
Vulcan (5.1.53): Roman name for the Greek blacksmith god, Hephaestus.
westward ho (3.1.134): Cry of Thames River boatmen calling for passengers to Westminster.
Imagery of Love
.......Because the plot of Twelfth Night centers on the theme of love, so does much of its imagery. But, of course, as Shakespeare has demonstrated in other plays—tragedies and histories as well as comedies—it is not always easy to discover whom one truly loves, let alone woo him or her successfully. Moreover, although love is pleasurable, it is often painfully pleasurable. In addition, although the object of one’s affection may be within earshot, he or she may be a world away emotionally. In Twelfth Night, Shakespeare’s imagery chronicles the blissful anguish of love, the ways which love conceals or reveals itself, and the giddy joy of capturing it heart and soul. Following are examples of imagery on the theme of love:

The Painful Pleasure of Love
If music be the food of love, play on;
Give me excess of it, that, surfeiting,
The appetite may sicken, and so die. (1.1 3-5)
Duke Orsino speaks a paradox in saying that the sustainer of love, music, may become the destroyer of love.

Come away, come away, death,
And in sad cypress let me be laid;
Fly away, fly away breath;
I am slain by a fair cruel maid. (2.4 55)
Feste speaks a personification and an apostrophe when he addresses death, an alliteration with sad cypress, and an oxymoron with fair cruel maid.

If ever thou shalt love,
In the sweet pangs of it remember me;
For such as I am all true lovers are,
Unstaid and skittish in all motions else,
Save in the constant image of the creature
That is beloved. (2.4.14-19)
Duke Orsino uses an oxymoron (sweet pangs) when speaking of love.

The Transparency of the Emotions

A murderous guilt shows not itself more soon
Than love that would seem hid: love’s night is noon. (3.1.114-115)
Olivia speaks a paradox, saying that trying to hide feelings of love succeeds only in revealing them.

She never told her love,
But let concealment, like a worm i’ the bud,
Feed on her damask cheek: she pined in thought,
And with a green and yellow melancholy
She sat like patience on a monument,
Smiling at grief. Was not this love indeed? (2.4.96-101)
In a paradox, Viola says concealment of love reveals it. In similes, she compares concealment to a worm and patience to a monument. In a metaphor, she compares melancholy to an object that is green and yellow.

Love Poem Foreshadowing a Happy Ending

O mistress mine! where are you roaming?
O! stay and hear; your true love’s coming,
That can sing both high and low:
Trip no further, pretty sweeting;
Journeys end in lovers meeting,
Every wise man’s son doth know. (2.3.20)
Feste sings this poem, which has a rhyme scheme of aabccb. Note: roaming and coming constitute eye rhyme but not true rhyme.


Other Figures of Speech

Alliteration

she that hath a heart of that fine frame (1.1.32)
While one would wink (5.1.90)

t is something of my
negligence, nothing of my purpose. (3.4.255-256)

Anaphora
ome are born great, some achieve greatness, and some
have greatness thrust upon 'em. (5.1.144-145)
One face, one voice, one habit, and two persons,
A natural perspective, that is and is not! (5.1.216-217)

Irony (Dramatic)
See Ingredients of the Comedy, Dramatic Irony
Irony (Verbal)
Good night, Penthesilea. (2.3.177)
Sir Toby Belch addresses Maria as Penthesilea, the queen of the Amazons in Greek mythology.
Penthesilea was a tall, muscular woman. Maria is small of stature.
Metaphor
If music be the food of love, play on;
Give me excess of it, that, surfeiting,
The appetite may sicken, and so die. (1.1.1-3)
Comparison of music to food
I my brother know
Yet living in my glass (3.last
Viola compares her brother to the image she sees when she looks at herself in a mirror.

Paradox
Love’s night is noon. (3.1.114-115)
Simile
[M]y desire,
More sharp than filed steel, did spur me forth (3.3.4-5)
Comparison of the sharpness of desire to the sharpness of "filed steel"

[Y]ou will hang like an icicle
on a Dutchman's beard (3.2.28)
Comparison of a person to an icicle
[T]his house is as dark as ignorance. (4.2.45)
Comparison of the darkness of the house to the darkness of ignorance

Meaning of Character Names
.......The names of several characters appear to be metaphors or symbols. For example, Malvolio means bad desires or bad intentions. (The prefix Mal means bad or evil, as in malicious; volio means I wish or I desire, from the Latin volo.) Sir Toby Belch is a mug of beer given to burping. (A toby is a jug or mug resembling a fat man; a belch is an expulsion of gas from the mouth.) Feste is jolly, festive, celebrating the joy of the moment. Viola, who disguises herself as a man, is the name of a musical instrument with a deeper tone than a violin's—in other words, a more masculine tone.
.......One may fairly speculate that Sebastian is named after Saint Sebastian, who was ordered killed because he was Christian. However, after archers pincushioned him with arrows and abandoned him, he remained alive and was nursed back to health. In Twelfth Night, Sebastian is presumed dead after a shipwreck but, like Saint Sebastian, survives. The name Aguecheek is a combination of ague, meaning fever, and cheek, meaning the fleshy side of the face. Thus, Sir Andrew Aguecheek is wine-drinking, red-cheeked fellow. Olivia may represent the olive tree, famous for its exquisite beauty.

Climax

.......The climax of a play or another narrative work, such as a short story or a novel, can be defined as (1) the turning point at which the conflict begins to resolve itself for better or worse, or as (2) the final and most exciting event in a series of events. The climax of Twelfth Night occurs, according to the first definition, when Olivia claims to love Cesario (Olivia). According to the second definition, the climax occurs in the final act when twins Viola and Sebastian establish their true identities.

Shakespeare's Use of Disguises

.......Time and again, Shakespeare disguises women as men to further a plot. For example, In All's Well That Ends Well, Helena wears the attire of a pilgrim to get close to Bertram. In Cymbeline, Imogen becomes a page boy to win back Posthumous. Julia also becomes a page boy in The Two Gentlemen of Verona, as does Viola in Twelfth Night. In The Merchant of Venice, Portia disguises herself as a male judge to save the friend of her lover in a court of law. Rosalind, in As You Like It, dons the garb of a man to become a shepherd as she seeks out her love, Orlando. In each of these plays, the women disguised as men eventually reveal their true female identities All of this could have been quite confusing to playgoers in Shakespeare's day, for only men played women's roles. Thus, in the above-mentioned plays, men played women disguised as men who at some point doffed their male identities to reveal themselves as females.

Hope this helps. ;D

[mcf]

Hi Steph,

Othello's Love
Bill Long
Loving Her for Pitying Him (1.3.168)
If Desdemona's love for Othello was a submissive love, generated by seeing his visage in his mind and fueled by her delight in his honors and valiant parts, Othello's love towards Desdemona is rather different. Though he will later speak of his sense of contentment to be united with her after a perilous trip to Cyprus with such rapturous words as "it is too much of joy (2.1.197), he is content not because he feels she is his "soulmate;" rather, he loved her because she fell in love with him through his stories.

Love and Storytelling
I have already briefly considered Othello's remarkable story of his life, "the battles, sieges, fortunes (1.3.130)" that he had experienced. The delectation in Othello's stories was, in the first instance, Brabantio's but soon became Desdemona's delight, also. They were rapt as he wrapped them in his narrative. Desdemona was overcome by the stories: "She thank'd me,/ And bade me,/ if I had a friend that lov'd her,/ I should but teach him how to tell my story/ And that would woo her (1.3.163-166)." Desdemona's not so subtle hint told him that his stories had made a deep impression on her. He continued to tell his stories, and his conclusion was "she lov'd me for the dangers I had pass'd (1.3.167)." This is only partially right, as Desdemona's later statements indicate (1.3.250-253), but it is on the right track. What is interesting, however, is the following line: "And I lov'd her that she did pity them [his dangers--1.3.168]."

The Quality of Othello's Love
So they loved each other for different reasons. This is something inviting reflection. So much emphasis in our day is placed upon "mutuality" or "egalitarianism" (though that word tended to rise and fall in the 1970s and 1980s) that couples might get the impression that love is about loving in the same way and for the same reason. But Othello's love for her says nothing about his perception of her as a woman, his appreciation of her finer qualities, his sense that he even understands anything of her past or her present. His love for her seems derivative, secondary, like a comdian's loving the crowd because it laughs at his jokes.

But there is something profoundly realistic about the way that Shakespeare has shaped his portrait of the mutual loves of Desdemona and Othello. In the June 28, 2004 New Yorker, Reagan biographer Edmund Morris speaks of the love that Nancy and Ronald Reagan had for each other. His description of course shows no indebtedness to Shakespeare's description in Othello, but it could have. Listen to his description of the President's love for Nancy:

"There is no doubt that she loved him for better and for worse, as her care of him in his last years has shown. Neither was there any equivocation in his love for her, as far as it went. But my impression is that it stopped at the frontier of his own interest (p. 48, italics added).

What Morris means by this statement is illustrated by Nancy Reagan's 2000 volume of love letters, "I Love You, Ronnie." In the letters of Ron to Nancy what was most striking to Morris were the lack of a single perceptive remark about her by the President. Indeed, in his personal diaries, the President would often refer to her, but it was "expressed almost entirely in terms of personal need." It never occurred to the President that she might be "lonely, too, or bereaved or frightened, that she has any identity other than--by extension--his own (Ibid.)."

Conclusion
As it was with Ron and Nancy, so it was with Othello and Desdemona. She fell in love with his visage in his mind, and he loved her because she loved his stories. When this happens (and who can doubt that it is true love?), the man has to keep telling stories and keep living adventures, and the woman must keep loving, enthralled by his visage in his mind, but delighting in every one of his valiant parts. Does this make love unequal? Of course. Is it any less love? Of course not. Is Shakespeare closer to describing the nature of most couples' true love than the jargon of today? Of course.

Hope this helps. ;D

[Steph :)]

Thanks

[Steph :)]

What quotations/ type of quotations should I use in the Origins of Love section? Should they be exclaiming their love for the other people or should the quotations show that their love is not all that it seems? If I'm making any sense... haha

Also, when talking about Origins of Love for Othello, can you just talk about the love between Othello and Desdemona or would you have to talk about Iago and stuff?

[mcf]

Hi,

What quotations/ type of quotations should I use in the Origins of Love section? Should they be exclaiming their love for the other people or should the quotations show that their love is not all that it seems? If I'm making any sense... haha
It should be about what their love is based on? Is it genuine and true love and how does the audience first understand this.

Also, when talking about Origins of Love for Othello,this is all to do with how she fell in love with him telling stroies of war and how he fell in love with her by how she listened. can you just talk about the love between Othello and Desdemona or would you have to talk about Iago and stuff?

Hope this helps. ;D

[Steph :)]

Sorry could I possibly hand in that part of my dissertation on Monday instead of tomorrow just so I have some of the weekend to do some more?

Also, any ideas on a quotation to start with?

How many quotations should be in the origins of love section? Sorry for so many questions!

[Steph :)]

Oh and also, should I be talking about theme? Which themes are most important that occur in all three?

[Steph :)]

SORRY! How do you put in the footnotes?

[mcf]

How many quotations should be in the origins of love section? Sorry for so many questions!

Hi Steph - it is not something that there is a mechanical answer to - you may analyse some quotations in detail and at times you will merely make fleeting reference to and simply insert them into your text. With regards to a quotation I would look to use something from Shakespeare himself about his views on love and waht aspects he is trying to portray in his plays. Footnotes is simply go to insert and click footnotes on your word document. With regards to themes you are mainly looking at conflict and love in difficult circumstancess.

Hope this helps. ;D

[mcf]

Shakespeare’s Love in Difficult Circumstances: A comparative study of the difficult and trying situations through which Shakespeare’s characters attempt to love in the three plays Romeo and Juliet, Othello and Twelfth Night.


Shakespeare’s literature is completenot sure about use of complete and also do you hasve any secondary reading that supports such a claim? with many characters in love, however, certain circumstances preclude them from liberallyliberally doesn't really work in this context. doing as their emotions tellweak expression. them to. This is revealed through both his tragedies and comedies; to the extent weak expression.of “Twelfth Night” character, Viola, disguising herself as a man and falling in love with her master, whilst the woman who her master loves, Olivia, falls for Viola’s male persona, Cesario. “Romeo and Juliet” explores the idea that love cannot outstand time, demonstrated by a pair of lovers whose family feuds cause them, and their love, to perish. ;D “Othello” portrays the idea that love can blossom from anywhere, in this case, from two people of difference races. The lovers face the toughweak expression. opinions of their society and struggle to balance when mixing businesstoo informal. with pleasure.There needs to be greater reference to the question now and the context / over view of the topic.

Weak topic sentence - lacks context and jumps into the ideas too quickly - better reference to question needed. A love triangle takes place in “Twelfth Night”, causing a more comedic ;D take on the idea of love in difficult circumstances. The confusion put into place by disguise however, brings up more serious issues of loveremember love on its own is too big and also what do you mean by serious isues - sounds rather vague.. “Twelfth Night” is the only play here which ends on a pleasantunderstatement. note, with almost all characters being loved reciprocallyweak expression.. All three plays display the thought that love, despite being greatgreat is a weak description., can lead to misery in difficult circumstances.

Shakespeare conveys the difficulties that the characters must overcome through portraying the origins of their love and questioning the sincerity of itThis topic sentence is far too wordy.. Each relationship appears to be based on diverse grounds, ranging from physical beauty to the beauty of another‘s soul. ;D It is the origins of love which allows the audience to interpret characters’ emotions as genuine or superficial, as Shakespeare comments on the idea that true love sees the soul, making it honest and pure. ;D

In “Romeo and Juliet”, Romeo is first characterisedthat is not actually how he is characterised - that is evidence of how he is characterised in that manner. as unable to see love as something that should see the soulWhat does that really mean?. This is shown through his sudden mind changewatch for expression errors here. of who he loves. He originally appears, and claims, to be in love with Rosaline, however his love is proven to be superficial as although her beauty at first caught his eye, it was incapable of keeping hima little vague in expression - not clear what you mean exactly. when he experienced true love.

Shakespeare makes useweak expression. of Romeo to highlight the idea that not all who claim to be in love, are being genuine. It can be insincereavoid little non-sentences - join the first two together.. Romeo’s passionate and slightly foolish nature causes him to be confused by the fact that Rosaline does not love him back, again emphasising how Romeo’s love was primarily superficial.How exactly? Shakespeare therefore, originally characterises Romeo as being drawn to the physical appearance of a woman rather than their personality.showing that...Remember that you need to contextualise the quotation and use a colon to end the topic sentence and also put next to the quotation who is speaking - Romeo: "......"

“O brawling love, o loving hate” ;D

Shakespeare utilisesdon't like use of utilises. this, not only to refer to Romeo’s apparent love for Rosaline, but to foreshadow his true love for girl who is from a family who is enemies with his familywatch this sentence is too wordy.. TheShould be Shakespeare's use of... use of this oxymoron conveys that Romeo is puzzled by his emotionsHow does it do that? Link then to question..

Remember what I said about love being too big a topic to deal with so be more specific.Love in “Romeo and Juliet” is instantly made evident when the two characters first meetHow?. The playwright makes clear the true beauty and honestly of their loveHow? Your statements are too vague?.

Shakespeare uses ofa is it a Petrarchian sonnet?sonnet to portray the sincerity of their love, as itis it not Shakespeare who uses the imagery? uses religious imagery to show the power and connection their love gives to them. As religion is thought to be a way of life, the religious sonnet links to Romeo and Juliet’s love perhapsavoid doubt. suggests that their love is from deep withinmeaning? and they will always live with itwhat does that mean? weak expression.. It also suggests the purity of their relationship, and conveys it to be something of greatnessweak expression. as religion is something that is present everywhere and is followed firmly.There is yet to be any direct reference to the sonnet. You need to quote. When does the sonnet appear in the play?
The octave of the sonnet focuses on Romeo charming Juliet for a kiss, whereas the sestet makes it clear that Juliet is more than happy to accept his gestureWhat is your point?. Shakespeare portrays both the lovers as being very aware of what they say and how they say it[What are you saying / meaning and why is this related to question - make it clear./b].

“To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss” ;D

Shakespeare relatescompares? Juliet to a shrine, perhaps avoid doubt.suggesting that as pilgrims would kiss the coarse exterior of a shrine that they have travelled to in order to worship, Romeo similarly hopes to kiss Juliet in a way as to show his appreciation for her. He wishes to exclaim his admiration for her. Shakespeare is perhapsavoid doubt. commenting on the idea that it is impossible to know much of love until you have experienced true, honest love for yourself.contextualise quotation.

“For saints have hands, that Pilgrim’s hands do touch,
And palm to palm is holy Palmer kiss.” ;D

Juliet’s first comment be careful with your use of sentence structure.of what she thinks of Romeo, proves her to be an established, young lady who never lets situations get out of her controlout of control is too informal.. Shakespeare’s clever imagery and word choicedon't get caught up on word chocie as that is micro analysis and focus more on significant dramatic techniques soliloquies etc. allows the audience to understand that Juliet believes her love for Romeo, and vice versatoo informal., is able to blossom. She so quickly deems their love as true, and hopes for it to continue. As she corrects Romeo, explaining to him that a Pilgrim would in fact touch the shrine with their hands rather than kiss it, it conveys the idea that she is showing him that they would both be equal in their relationship, despite the fact that they are living in a patriarchal society. Her strength only causes Romeo’s love for her to grow. It also highlights that she believes their love is so real, that they only need to touch palms to prove their love. ;D

In “Othello” however, the origins of the characters’ love is based on different factorsrather vague?, rather than the idea of love at first sight. Shakespeare makes clear the reasons that Othello loves Desdemona at the beginning of the play, and after the opening scenes both Othello and Desdemona have spoken opening about their lovethis last sentence is rather rambling..

Desdemona’s father, Brabantio, accuses Othello of enchanting his daughter in order to “woo” her.use direct references to the texts to support more and remember to footnote them all. Othello’s response to this proves his confidenceHow does he respond? in himself and his relationship and he replies firmly whilst still being dignified. It is this confidence that both characters have in their love that strengthens their relationship.
The couple’s past is made clear to the audience, enlighteningweak expression. on how Othello would tell stories of his travels and Desdemona would listen contently.

“Desdemona would seriously incline”Is this the best quotation? Is there not something about her ear?

Othello’s adventurous, exciting stories drew Desdemona in, causing her to fall in love with himWhy?. Othello noticed her keen interest in him and his stories and, similarly to Shakespeare’s other characters, he appreciated her beautiful looksHighlighting?. Othello loved the ideaexpression is too informal. that Desdemona loved to hear his stories, so he wished her to hear his full storyweak expression before this insertion.. He wished “to draw her from prayer of earnest heart, that I would all my pilgrimage dilate” .You must make some comment on this quotation.
Desdemona makes it obvious that she is moved by his stories as she cries, and hopes to have someone of such ventures in her life.remember to use a colon not a full stop to introduce a quotation.

“She loved me for the dangers I had passed,
And I loved her tat she did pity them.” ;D

The sincerity of their love is made evident from the beginning of the play, however, there is still roomtoo informal expression. for the audience’s doubt that Othello has fallen in love with Desdemona’s beauty rather than her soul. This ignites the idea that Desdemona may also only love Othello for his stories.

As the opening scenes prove, Othello has complete belief in their relationship suggesting that confidence on both parts is of great importance. Shakespeare goes on to show that Desdemona also has confidence in their relationship by her polite rebellion against her fatherWhen? You make limited reference to Act and scene numbers..

“I am hitherto your daughter. But here’s my husband,
And so much duty as my mother showed
To you, preferring you before her father,
Due to the Moor my lord.” ;D

Like Juliet, Desdemona confirms the strength of her personalityHow?. She is not afraid to stand up for herself and exclaim her beliefs.Watch that you don't make a series of short sentences / statements and see how they could in fact be joined together. She explains to her father that her duties now lie with Othello, as her mother’s did him. This further conveys her love for Othello as it would not have been easy for her to confront her father, a man of power, with something that he would not wish to hearAlso she did it in public..

Despite the fact that “Twelfth Night” is filled with humour, Shakespeare is careful in portraying the character’s love throughoutWhat does this opening sentence mean and where is the link betwen sections. You must use your language to signal a change in direction.. He immediately plants the idea of love in the opening lines of the playHow?, suggesting that an excessive love can often lead to impairment.

“If music be the food of love, play on;
Give me excess of it, that, surfeiting,
The appetite may sicken, and so die” ;D

Orsino immediately conveys the idea that his love feedsDoes it? on music, making it greater and deeper, as music is thought to be full of emotion and richnessAre you sure that is what he truly means?. He hopes to overindulge in this bliss and die with this content feeling, as he believes there to be nothing that could cause a superior sensation ;D. Great commotions lead to the characters thinking they have fallen in love with others, in ways that are reciprocally impossible due to complicationsWatch your wording here.. The play acquiresacquires doesn't really fit in this context. the theme of love early on to prove that Orsino is overwhelmed by the love he feels, and he cannot stop talking about it. This suggests that love, in “Twelfth Night”, is a factor that completely invades the characters’ lives as they appear to be unable to escape it. ;D

Shakespeare continues to portray love from Orsino’s point of view, as he exclaims his love for Olivia.Weak topic sentence - what point are you trying to make? Although it is soon made clear that he has never met Olivia, it is evident that he is passionate about the idea of loving her ;D. This is much like the superficial love that Romeo felt towards Rosaline ;DHow?. Orsino proves to be serious about gaining Olivia’s love as he continuously sends messengers to tell her of his lovewatch this doesn't sound rpt.. The opening lines, however, create doubt as to whether or not Orsino genuinely loves her as her has never met her to know for sure. Although he claims to be in love, an emotion which should bring great joy, he seems to be miserable because of it. ;DShakespeare reveals Orsino’s love to be superficial through his word choiceremember what I said about micro analysis. relating to death and general decay of a person. It appears that he is infatuated with the phenomenon of love, rather than the shared feelings and happiness between him and Olivia.

However strong the love between two people may be, certain complications can easily cause difficulties and ruin a relationship, especially when there are three people involved such as in “Twelfth Night”This opening sentence is too wordy and confusing - the point is not made clearly.. Shakespeare creates the idea of love in difficult circumstances in this play through the act of disguise, extending to change of gender. It is, in fact, Viola’s disguise that ignites the plot as without it the audience would learn nothing more of the relationship between all of the characters and there would be no misunderstandings to formulate an exciting climax. It is also Viola’s arrival that causes the intricate “love triangle”, foreshadowing that not everything will end as the character’s first hoped ;D. The “love triangle” consists of Viola falling in love with Orsino, Orsino falling in love with Olivia and Olivia falling in love with Cesario, Viola’s disguise. The difficulty is caused as Orsino does not evenwatch expression erros here. consider Viola as a possible partner as he believes her to be male.

“Nothing that is so, is so” ;DIs this dramatic irony? Look at how this is used in all plays if possible.

Shakespeare makes clear that the reality of the situation will not be obvious to the characters in “Twelfth Night”. Things will not be as they seem. Remember what I said about such short little non-sentences.As the relationships progress, the grief that love can bring when reality is hidden is made apparent. Despite the fact that Viola’s disguise is meant for good reason'good reason' is weak expression., in terms of love it causes complications. In order to get her life back on tracktoo informal. after the shipwreck, Viola dresses herself as a man so that she can work as a servant for Orsino. This in turn adds to the confusion when she falls in love with her master and her natural beauty attracts Olivia. It is Cesario’s beauty and feminine traits that appeal to Olivia. When Viola begins to realise that Olivia is interestedunderstatement? in her, she understands that her disguise is causing problems.What do you mean by problems?

“Disguise, I see thou art a wickedness,
Wherein the pregnant enemy does much.
How easy is it, for the proper-false
In women’s waxen hearts to set their forms:
Alas, our frailty is the cause, not we” ;D

Viola now appreciates that her façade is instigating difficulties for everyone around her. As Shakespeare refers to Viola’s disguise as the “pregnant enemy”, it suggests that she deems her disguise to be the devil that foils all true love. ;D
Evidence suggestsWeak opening - what evidence? Where did you get this information? that although he was strictly educated in England, Shakespeare was religiously influenced expression error in italics.by his parents as they were thought to be Catholics, hence making religious images common in his plays as he too was thought to have Catholic views. However, this is not fully clearsentence structure - be careful as at this time people were very cautious about exposing their religion due to punishmentWhat do you mean? Develop historical context a little further if it is relevant..

Despite the fact that Viola is dressed as a man and has fallen in love with Orsino, by simply being around one another they have created a bond. This causes further difficulties in the “love triangle” as Cesario can relate to how Orsino is feeling towards Olivia as she feels the same way about him, yet cannot do anything about it. The idea that, despite loving him herself, Viola helps Orsino to woo, Olivia proves that Shakespeare has produced a character who is selfless and proud. ;D This causes the audience to feel a certain admiration towards Viola as she has remained dignified, restraining her emotions.
Again similarlythe first two words don't work together. to Romeo’s initial “love” for Rosaline, Orsino’s love for Olivia is proven to be superficial when he explains that he believes women’s power to love is less great weak expression.than men’s.

“No motion of the liver, but the palate,
That suffer surfeit, cloyment, and revolt,
But mine is all as hungry as the sea,
And can digest as much” ;D

As in the opening lines of the play, Shakespeare links love to food and eatingWhy?. Shakespeare creates the idea that Orsino believes that a woman loves someone, they will eventually have enough of it, as you will become full after eating too much.First two sentences should be put together and condensed. He relates the feeling of love to an appetite, the feeling of hunger will pass and you will no longer wish to eat - i.e.avoid using i.e. in formal writing. a woman will love when they wish to or feel they need it, however, when they have overindulged they will have no more of it. It seems that Orsino sees a man’s love as far more powerful than a woman’s, as it will last longer and is fully sincere. should this really be a spearate sentence?Therefore, Orsino believes that a man’s love is superior. As he relates his love to the sea, he suggests that he is capable of retaining a massivemassive is too informal. amount of love as the sea covers a large area, emphasising the scale to which he could love. Orsino is adamant that his love for Olivia is betterweak word choice here. and stronger than the love a woman would feel for him, and that men have a natural ability to love sincerely.

It appears that Shakespeare believed that relationships were formed around a dominant male and physical appearance. He was proven to have a keen curiosity in the idea of love and what comes along with it, as shown in his narrative poems; “The Rape of Lucrece” and “Venus and Adonis”. In “Venus and Adonis”, Venus, the goddess of love and beauty, seduces a young man into having a passionate relationship with her, despite that the does not wish too. It is unmistakable that Shakespeare continues his obsession with love in “Twelfth Night”. Viola insists that woman are extremely capable of loving just as much as men, if not more. This again highlights Viola’s strength as a woman in a patriarchal society, showing the consistency of the theme of love in Shakespeare’s work. ;D

Shakespeare attempts to highlight the difficulties of the relationships, in hope to portray their sincerity when each play is brought to a climax. ;D

It is thought by someWho? Do you have secondary sources to support such claims?, that family consent is a major factor when in love. A relationship cannot run smoothlyItalics is too informal. without the support and love of family members as they are a key part of your life. It is the family feud between both Romeo and Juliet’s family that cause them their greatest difficulty. Romeo’s family, the Montague’s, and Juliet’s family, the Capulet’s, were in constant dispute for many years. Shakespeare conveys that neither Romeo’s or Juliet’s family were fully appreciative of their son or daughter as only with their death, did they bother to mend their attitudes towards each another. This implies that a loving family is crucial in order to have a decentword choice of 'decent' is weak. relationship.
Shakespeare sets up the central character’s love as doomed to failure as it blossoms in a world of intolerance, emphasised thorough the prologue We know when a prologue appears.at the beginning of the play.

“A pair of star-cross’d lovers, take their life:” ;D

Shakespeare establishes that this couple were perhapsavoid showing doubt. not meant to be together, despite their genuine love for each other. Their family feud is the core problem that prevents them from being blissfully together. This suggests that they were destined to catastrophe.work on expression here.

With the couple’s first meeting, Juliet believes their love to be passionate enough to triumph over all difficulties. She feels strongly in loveweak expression. with Romeo and does not see a valid reason why she should notWhat?, even with him being a Montague. However, she does seem to understand that this will cause complications.

“My only love sprung from my only hate”

Although Juliet is clearly aware of the trouble their love could lead to, she is still willing, and has enough faith, to continue. This exemplifies the extent to which they love each other and proves it to be pure. It is in Act III.I,This is the first time you have made clear reference to specific scenes. it is made obvious that the couple’s demise is almost entirely the fault of their families quarrel. This demonstrates that negativenegative is too vague. factors, such as hatred, bring downfall. If Romeo and Juliet were from any other family apart from their own, their relationship would have been able to have lasted, therefore, highlighting that Shakespeare creates love in difficult circumstances in his plays. Check over your use of paragraphing throught the whole dissertation.This scene in particular portrays the character’s inability to balance reason with fantasy. Juliet’s cousin, Tybalt, appears to be the character who ignites the anger in Romeo that leads to the couple’s separation. This is because, although Romeo has refused to fight him as he is now “family”, Tybalt is unsatisfied with that lack of confrontation and therefore, scrapstoo informal. with Mercutio, until he kills him. As Mercutio is one of Romeo’s good friends, he converts from the submissive Romeo that Juliet helped create to a revenge-fuelled, violent man. Romeo’s enragement causes him to kill Tybalt without thinking about what it means in terms of his relationship. ;D

Mercutio alerts Romeo that something catastrophic is bound to happen due to the situation.This lacks context and a link to the question.

“A plague o’ both houses, I am sped”

Mercutio’s last fewinformal expression. lines suggest that both the Montague’s and the Capulet’s have nothing good coming their way. It implies that even with the death of some of their family, they will not learn to forgive, yet, they will argue more. Romeo’s original personality is restored when he accepts what he has done as wrong, and realises the consequences it may bring.

“O, I am fortune’s fool!”

Romeo is advised to leave Verona as soon as possible, leaving him hysterical about being away from his love as it is possible he will never see her again. This perhapsavoid showing doubt. suggests that he now regrets what he has done as he wishes to be with Juliet more than anything. The idea that his situation has brought Romeo to this point emphasises that love in difficult circumstances can bring emotional pain to those in love. ;D

Shakespeare tackles several of the difficulties that can affect love in “Othello”. The main factors which affect the characters are the feeling of jealousy and the problems that loving someone of a different race can bring.

At the beginning of the play, Shakespeare establishes Iago’s hate for Othello through racial imagery WEAK STRUCTURE AND EXPRESSION AND ALSO REMEMBER HE IS HIGHLIGHTING THE PREDUJICES OF SOCIETY AT THE TIME AND ALSO LOOK AT vENICE AS A PREDOMINANTLY WHITE SOCIETY AND oTHELLO THE WILEDING STRANGER AND ALSO THEN HOW THEIR MOVE FROM LAW ABIDDING vENICE TO cYPRUS PROVES PROBLEMATIC AS THEY HAVE NOTHING TO DO BUT PREY ON EACH OTHERS MINDS.relates him to animalistic qualities. The fact that Othello is with Desdemona, a woman who Iago finds beautiful, only adds to Iago’s negative feelings towards himSexual jealousy - he has done my office.. This highlights that racism was common during this period of time and many of the characters in “Othello”, especially Iago, were prone to extreme racial views.

“an old black ram
Is tupping your white ewe”

Shakespeare further emphasises Iago’s hatred for Othello through vulgar and offensive insults when informing Desdemona’s father that she has been having relations with a black man. The contrast between the “black ram” and “white ewe” that symbolise Othello and Desdemona, illustrate just how much Iago believes the couple to be wrong for each other due to their differences. As a ram could cause harm to an ewecontrast in race., Iago sees Othello as a threat towards Desdemona. It seems that Iago attempts to use Brabantio to break the couple apart.

“your daughter and the Moor are now making the beast with two backs” telling him also that if they were to have children they would be unnatural.

Iago hopes that by telling Desdemona’s father of her sexual doings with a less that desirable man to her father, that he will be appalled and take it into his hands to stop their relationship. As he refers to Othello as a “beast” it also suggests that he believes that Desdemona is in danger with him, hoping to put fear for his daughter’s safety in Brabantio’s mind. ;D

avoid using another as a linking word.Another dilemma that the couple face is Othello growing jealousy at the idea Desdemona may has been unfaithful. Iago thinks that Othello has slept with his wife, and therefore, wishes to cause his relationship misery. He devises this plan to make him jealous in hope that it will bring his downfall. However, Othello has in fact not slept with Iago’s wife and he is therefore, causing a awkward situation for no legitimate reason.

“O, beware, my lord, of jealousy:
It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock
The meat it feeds on.”

Shakespeare creates dramatic ironydoesn't tell him, at first, what to be jealous of. as it is Iago who warms Othello of the “green-eyed monster”, representing jealousy, yet, it is him who is purposely planting it in his thoughts. In perspective, it is Iago, rather, who is the “green-eyed monster” as believes his wife to have had sexual relations with Othello, enhancingenhancing doesn't fit here. the irony. If Iago is the monster, then it is he mocking Othello, showing that he is enjoying witnessing Othello’s grief. Shakespeare generates the thought that Iago is destroying Othello, highlighted by referring to him as “meat” that Iago “feeds” on. This insinuates that Iago takes pleasure in taking Othello’s pride and nobility from him. Shakespeare conveys Othello’s strength as he tries to persuade himself against this rumour.is rumour the best word.

“To say my wife is fair, feeds well, loves company,
Is free of speech, sings, plays and dances:”

Despite that Othello goes on to explain that he would only believe such accusations if he had proof, the use of this list suggests that he is attempting to convince himself against the doubt he is having. As it is a list of varied qualities, it does imply that Othello strongly loves Desdemona as he admires her attributes and is making effort to forget what he has been told. ;D

Shakespeare utilisesutilises is not the best word and remember it also symbolises her chastity and then her infidelity - alleged - when it seems it has been passed around. Desdemona’s handkerchief as tool for Iago to spoil the couple’s faith in their relationship. The handkerchief has sentimental value as it symbolises the love and trust Othello felt towards Desdemona. This is because it was given to him by his mother, who believes it to have a special ability to help love blossom, and he believed his wife to be worthy of it. Due to this belief, if it were to be lost, Othello would deem his love lost as it was a symbol of their solidarity. When Othello catches sight of another man holding the handkerchief, he comes across as utterly defeated and miserable as he now sees his relationship as over. Shakespeare creates tension in this scene through the misunderstanding which leads to hurt.You really need to look at paragraphing. At this point, Othello is unsure how to react as he is trying to balance his love with jealousy. Although his love has proven to be strong, Othello’s jealous is overpowering, suggest that his love can be seen as superficial. Despite the fact that Othello resorts to murdering his wife for wrong reasons, the audience still feel obliged to sympathise towards him as he now must cope with the grief of guilt. Shakespeare exposes Othello’s emotions to allow the audience to appreciate his confusion.and warring emotions.

“The fountain from the which my current runs
Or else dries up: to be discarded thence!
Or keep it as a cistern for foul toads
To knot and gender in! Turn thy complexion there.
Patience, thou young and rose-lipped cherubin” ;D

Shakespeare suggest that until Othello believes there to be infidelity, he thought of Desdemona as pure and admired, like a fountain, however, now he sees her as tarnished. As a “cistern for foul toads” seems repulsive, it shows the extent to which her supposed unfaithfulness disgusts him. However, he also compliments her beauty, highlighting his confusion and therefore, it is the uncertainty that causes him to murder her. ;DLook at his speech before he kills her - it is the cause it is the cause. Also mention how he feels he loved too much.

Shakespeare’s true view on love is concealed throughout his plays, however, it is clear that the idea of superficial love often occurs. In “Romeo and Juliet”, Romeo’s initial love of Rosaline proves to be superficial as he decides he loveweak expression. Juliet in an instant. Othello’s love for Desdemona is arguably superficial as he appears to love her before he really knows her, perhaps due to her appearance. In “Twelfth Night”, Orsino’s love seems obviously superficial as he believes a man’s love to be much greater and he has not even met the woman he supposedly loves, which some may say is therefore, impossible.

In these three plays, it can be said that maintaining a strong relationship through difficult circumstances can be extremely toughtoo informal., however, finding the situation which could bring a couple’s downfall is somewhat easier. Romeo and Juliet simply fall in love at their first sight, unfortunately their parent’s disagreements keep them from being together. Othello struggles to maintain stability with both his relationship and his job, despite the fact he believes himself to be deeply in love with Olivia. It is also jealously that drives Othello to his actions. It is evident in “Twelfth Night” that the main difficulty preventing love, is due to disguise. It can be argued that Viola’s disguise also causes characters to grow closer as time can be spent to understand one another, rather than seeing the person as a possible partner.This needs work on paragraphing.

Together, these plays perhapsRemember to avoid doubt. suggests that Shakespeare considers that no matter how far you believe yourself to be in love, certain difficulties will prevent a relationship from lasting without any hitches. It is the relationships that outlast the problems, which can be deemed as true. These are the ones that have the opportunity to last forever.

Hope this helps. ;D

























Advanced Higher English Dissertation

Name: Stephanie Louise Smith

SCN: 050981495

School: Firrhill High School

Centre number: 5532639

Word count: 4500

[mcf]

Hi Steph,

I have marked your dissertation and it is posted above. You can have until Monday night.

Hope this helps. ;D

[Steph :)]

Thanks, I'll get it to you