Compare and Contrast of Mosquito Coast and Twelfth Night

The novel Mosquito Coast and the play Twelfth Night both contain similar and dissimilar aspects to them. In both these works there are characters who through deception and trickery, are later enlightened to the truth. Themes of actuality and truth become quite apparent in these works. Though completely different written pieces (Twelfth Night with its comedic enlightenment, and Mosquito Coast with its serious "growing up" style enlightenment) are both comprised of the latter truth element where an inevitable realization of reality is reached in the end.

Charlie Fox in Mosquito Coast finds truth throughout his journey of growing up while his father pursues his quest of recreation by means of lying to his family. In Twelfth Night, characters purposely deceive and lie for many reasons as well. Both Allie Fox and the characters in Twelfth Night lie for selfish personal gain. Allie wanted to show his "wisdom" by leaving the States and making his own improved Utopia to show he is better than everyone else ("the last man"). To do this however, Allie had to lie to his family and convince them that the U.S. was going to destroy itself and start another war. He deftly hides the fact that America was never endangered or under a threat and that no destruction happened to the States during their stay in the Honduras. The characters in Twelfth Night pursue their self-centered goals by disguising themselves to either satisfy their lust for vengeance (Feste, when he gets back at Malvolio for his arrogance) or to prevent others from knowing the ugly truth (Viola, when she hides her true identity to get into Orsino's Court as Cesario).

Though Twelfth Night does have a comedic truth revelation, there is one exception to it. Both...

... middle of paper ...

... Coast, the Fox family see just how stupid and selfish Allie was in his creator endeavors. He took them along for his crazed exploration and there was a sadness about that loss of Allie in the end. However there is also relief and hope for a new life in America without an insane father for the Fox family. This makes it an almost happy ending due to the fact that the father was gone. This brings them freedom, and release from the boundaries Allie set up and the 'chains' Allie had forced the Fox family to wear.

In both cases lies and fabrications were tossed around generously, but proven false in the end. The disguises and lies led to truth, and the characters reached a revelation and turning point where they gained knowledge from the truth in the end. The truth always prevails and in both works ultimately displays that deceit ushers in truth sooner or later.