Gender Roles In Twelfth Night

Society has constructed the roles associated with gender, and defined what it means to be masculine and feminine. It has set the expectation that a man and woman will fall in love, get married, and “life happily ever after.” At first glance, Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare seems to be a conventional Shakespearian comedy, in which all conflicts are resolved through marriage and romantic heterosexual pairings. However, further analysis of the novel reveals the implications of homosexuality and underlying messages about the complexity and fluidity of gender. William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night challenges stereotypical gender-specific behaviours, concepts of masculinity and femininity, and heteronormativity in society, ultimately confronting the idea of gendered identity.

William Shakespeare is quick to present, and then confront gender stereotypes and

Duke Orsino describes his views on women in marriage, and warns Cesario to marry a younger woman by saying “Let still the woman take, an elder than herself. So wears she to him, so sways she level in her husband’s heart.” (2.4.28-30). Clearly, Orsino sees women as mere objects to be used by their husbands. He sexually objectifies women, and thinks of them as the inferior sex, as proven when he says, “No woman’s sides can bide the beating so strong a passion as love doth give my heart (2.4.94-96). Orsino’s view on women in marriage seems slightly cynical. In contrast, Viola, in her male disguise as “Cesario”, defends women, and displays the power and potential of women without social barriers. In response to Orsino’s remark about a woman’s capacity to love, “Cesario” says that women are as “true of heart as we,” (2.4.107) and that “We men may say more, swear more, but indeed our shows are more than will.” (2.4.117-118). Because Viola’s true gender is disguised, Orsino can truly consider the idea that women have