Literature How does Shakespeare view social class in Twelve Night? Done by: Hannah (16), Linda (25), Yi En (27)

Intro- How does Shakespeare view social class in Twelfth Night? Through characters such as Maria and Sir Andrew, Shakespeare challenges the hierarchy present in Elizabethan era social class. Shakespeare views the lower class to be more disciplined than the upper class and the upper class is portrayed as foolish, hedonistic, and selfish.

PEEL 1- How does Shakespeare view social class in Twelfth Night? P:The upper class are presented as foolish. Though the upper class are perceived as educated, people such as Maria and Feste, from the lower social classes have proven themselves to be more educated. E:This can be seen from the banter between Sir Andrew and Maria. In Act 1 Scene 3, Sir Andrew says, "Fair lady, do you think you have fools in hand?" Maria then says, "Sir I have not you by the hand". Sir Andrew then replies, "Marry but you shall have; and here's my hand" E: Though Sir Andrew is a knight, and is of a higher social class than Maria, he is unable to understand that Maria is actually calling him a fool. As someone from the upper class, he ought to be more educated. However, when talking to Maria, he is unable to understand that Maria is actually mocking him and calling him a fool. Through this, we can see that Sir Andrew is foolish, and appears dim-witted as he is unable to understand Maria's words and was completely lost with her mocking and jokes. P: This can be further seen from the quote, "I heard my lady talk of it yesterday; and of a foolish knight that you brought in one night here to be her wooer" Many have testified to Sir Andrew's foolishness, Maria's constant mocking, and calling him a "foolish knight". Although Sir Toby claims that Sir Andrew has some positive traits, Maria still insists that he is foolish. Even Malvolio calls him a foolish knight. With this repeated emphasis, we can thus see Sir Andrew's foolishness and dim-wittedness. L: Thus, the upper class are presented as foolish through Shakespeare's portrayal of Sir Andrew.

PEEL 2- How does Shakespeare view social class in Twelfth Night? P: Shakespeare views the lower class to be more disciplined than the upper class. E: Sir Toby who is of the upper class, is undisciplined. He says ‘Confine! I’ll confine myself no finer than I am; these clothes are good enough to drink in’. E: This shows that Sir Toby does not care if he dresses appropriately or not and his only criterion for dressing is to be good enough to drink only. He does not care about the public expectations of the upper class being properly dressed and well-behaved. Yet Sir Toby has presented himself to be the black sheep as he goes against the stereotypical expectations. P: Furthermore, Maria says, ‘my lady, takes great expectations of your ill hours’. This shows that he does not come punctually and thus emphasising that he is undisciplined. This also shows that Maria who is of the lower social class knows how to be disciplined, as she must have come punctually before she can criticise anyone. She also takes the initiative to reprimand Sir Toby which show that she is obedient to Olivia while Sir Toby did not even come punctually. L: Thus,Shakespeare views the lower class to be more disciplined than the upper class.

PEEL 3- How does Shakespeare view social class in Twelfth Night? P: Shakespeare views the upper class as selfish and this is portrayed through Orsino and Olivia. E: Olivia is full of grief due to her brother's death, thus "till seven years heat shall not behold her face at ample view". E: Out of love for her brother, she claims to mourn for seven years over the loss of him. However, since her brother is dead, Olivia is in charge of the household, but Olivia is neglecting her responsibilities because she is wallowing in her own misery. Olivia is self- centered as she does not show interest in anything as she is preoccupied in her sorrow over the loss of her brother. E:Similarly, Orsino ignores Curio when Curio says, “Will you go hunt, my Lord?” Orsino continues describing his love for Olivia by saying, “when mine eyes did see Olivia first, Methought she purged the air of pestilence.” E: Orsino, just like Olivia, is preoccupied with his love for Olivia and shows no interest in anything else. Although he is the Duke of Illyria, he ignores his duties as a duke and his thoughts are all about his love for Olivia. P: I feel that both Orsino and Olivia should not let themselves be overwhelmed by their emotions and they should give importance and show interest towards their duties and responsibilities. L: Orsino and Olivia belong to the upper social class but they only indulge in their emotions and nothing else. Therefore, their insistence of their ‘love’ highlights the selfishness of the upper class who are fixed only on themselves.

PEEL 4- How does Shakespeare view social class in Twelfth Night? P: Shakespeare views the upper class to be hedonistic. This is portrayed through Sir Toby and Sir Andrew. They indulge in merry-making, partying, drinking and dancing and they have no concern for other matters. E: This can be seen when Maria says "that quaffing and drinking will undo you" Sir Toby drinks frequently, and Maria is trying to advise Sir Toby to stop drinking as it will harm his health. E: This shows that Sir Toby has extent his love for drinking that he drinks so much which could harm his health. Maria would then try to stop him from drinking but to no avail. Furthermore, Maria says "They that add, moreover, he's drunk nightly in your company." This shows that Sir Andrew also joins in Sir Toby to drink and indulge in social vices. Even though Sir Andrew should not engage in these social vices but instead he should be self-disciplined in order to woo Olivia, he gets influenced by Sir Toby and joins him in indulging in revelry. P: Through Sir Toby, Shakespeare mocks the upper class as they partake and indulge in revelry. Sir Toby's drunkenness and constant merry-making defies the socially- accepted behaviour that is expected from the upper class. As a knight, Sir Toby should be more concerned about other more important matters. Yet, he indulges in merry-making, partying, and drinking, only concerned about his own indulgence. Through characters such as Sir Toby, we are able to see the subversion of hierarchy in Elizabethan era social class. L: Thus, we can see that Shakespeare views the upper class as hedonistic.

Conclusion- How does Shakespeare view social class in Twelve Night? Though the upper class are perceived as educated, well-respected and learned, Shakespeare's portrayal of the upper class in Twelfth Night challenges this social expectation of the upper class. Shakespeare uses characters such as Maria, Feste, Sir Toby and Sir Andrew to mock the hierarchy in Elizabethan era social class. For example, although the upper class ought to be educated, Maria, a mere servant from the lower class is able to mock the foolishness of upper class members like Sir Andrew. Thus, we can see that Shakespeare views the upper class as foolish, hedonistic, selfish, and undisciplined.

Question 2 How does Shakespeare view gender roles in Twelfth Night?

Intro The Elizabethan era was a male-dominated society. Men were of a higher ranking than women, and were considered better than women. However, through Shakespeare's portrayal of characters such as Olivia and Viola, Shakespeare challenges the notion of a female role, questioning gender role stereotypes and confusing what women should, and should not do. This can be seen through the subversion of gender roles in courtship and in the household, as well as the confusion of gender roles.

PEEL 1 P: There is a subversion of a female's role in courtship. In the Elizabethan era, women were stereotyped as passive and inactive in courtship. Societal expectations state that women ought to wait for the males to pursue them, rather than the females pursue the males. However, the roles of courtship are reversed in Twelfth Night. This can be seen through Olivia and Cesario. E: Olivia says, "Run after that same peevish messenger, The County's man. He left this ring behind him" E: She sends Malvolio to run after Cesario to pass him the ring in order to get Cesario to return again. Through this, we can see that Olivia is in fact, taking ownership of the relationship and is wooing Cesario directly. P: This can be further seen from her proclaiming her love for Cesario, she says, "love thee so that, maybe all thy pride, Nor wit nor reason can my passion hide" Olivia openly declares and proclaims her love for Cesario. Through Shakespeare's portrayal of Olivia, females are portrayed as having the authority, the choice to pursue as well. L:Thus, we are able to see the reversal of gender roles in courtship, portrayed through Olivia.

Point form 2 P: Cross-dressing of Viola causes confusion of gender roles E: "fortune forbid my outside have not charmed her" as Olivia "were better love a dream" - Viola’s disguise as a man is causing her confusion and she hopes that Olivia does not fall in love with her as Olivia’s love is hopeless. E: Viola - in no danger of falling in love with Olivia (Viola is aware of the gender boundaries). However, Olivia - helplessly falls in love with Viola (Olivia does not know that Viola is actually a woman who is cross-dressing). Viola cross- dressing - resulted in Viola herself being troubled because although Olivia's pursuit is futile, Viola cannot stop Olivia from falling in love with her P: Viola's cross-dressing - reason she has to keep her love for Orsino to herself. "As I am man, my state is desperate for my master's love." - Viola longs to be loved by Orsino, but she is bound by her physical gender boundaries as she disguise as a man. L: Thus, we are able to see the confusion and problems caused by Viola's cross-dressing.

Point form 3 P: Subversion of Female's role in household. Males are supposed to be the dominant figure of the household. However, Olivia is now the head of the household. E: Olivia says "A virtuous maid, the daughter of a count. That died some twelfth month since, then leaving her In the protection of his son, her brother, Who shortly also died" E: This shows that Olivia has been given the role of being the head of the household due to the death of her brother and father. P:This goes against the societal expectations of the Elizabethan era, which was a male-dominated society. Women were of a lower ranking than men, and were considered inferior to male. Through this, Olivia even gets to have control of the males in the household, such as Sir Toby, Sir Andrew and even allow her to pursue Cesario. L: Thus, we are able to see the subversion of female's role in household through Shakespeare's portrayal of Olivia as head of household.

Conclusion In Twelfth Night we can see that Shakspeare challenges the notion of the female role. He questions the typical gender stereotypes through characters such as Viola, and Olivia. Shakespeare portrays women as being equal to the men, through the use of gender roles. For example, though the Elizabethan era was a male-dominated society, he portrays women as having the authority to pursue the men, though this goes against societal expectations. Thus, we can see that Shakspeare challenges the society to attain gender equality.

as a subversion of what society expects of them upper class > not meticulous in dressing and selfish lower class > witty and more educated (not even expected to be educated PEEL 1: Sir toby: Confine! I’ll confine myself no finer than I am; these clothes are good enough to drink in. shows that sir toby is unconcerned / does not care about how people see him as and just indulges into drinking and merry- making with no concerned about other things. subversion of social class as higher social class are supposed to be careful THESE ARE JUST NOTES TAKEN IN CLASS

lower social class to be more witty and educated when they are not expected to be educated at all E: banter of Maria and Sir andrew HAVE TO EXPLAIN WORDPLAY. if not use other easier examples showing exact opposite of common thinking. THIS ONE ALSO OK Thanks.