Feste in William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night

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Feste in William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night

In William Shakespeare's comedy Twelfth Night, it is ironic how many times the fool is said to be dishonest, when, in fact, his role proves entirely opposite. Though sometimes the characters do not realize his hidden messages, the reader can instantly comprehend Feste's figurative language, which is evident in every scene in which the fool appears. Whether he is singing to Orsino, arguing with Malvolio, or playing around with Viola, Feste always manages to sneak in a few symbolic foretokens before his exit. His keen eye and fast wit help him to actively partake in the portrayal of the story, however, the fool is merely present to express that which cannot be fully expressed through the lines of other characters. Through his songs, witty jokes and puns, Feste proudly and efficiently reveals truth throughout the play.

Although most characters find them as only a convenient source of entertainment, Feste's songs serve much more of a purpose. If the words are carefully listened to, a hidden message can be found. While in the company Sir Toby and Andrew, Feste sings one song with two specific messages. The first verse sums up the love triangle between Orsino, Olivia and Viola. He sings, "O mistress mine, where are you roaming?" (2.3.40). This line shows that the fool knows the truth: that Orsino, Olivia and Viola are all searching for their true love. In the second verse, Feste explains more of a philosophy for life. The lines "Present mirth hath present laughter, / What's to come is still unsure," (2.3.49-50) can be interpreted as the modern cliché of "Live for today." These words show Feste's knowledge of their hesitance toward love and also represent Toby's logic toward life. Later, at Orsino's request, Feste sings a somber tune about a boy who dies for love. This link between love and death affects both Orsino and Viola as they listen and compare themselves to the boy in the song. For Orsino, the song's "fair cruel maid" (2.4.61) is Olivia, and the song represents what will become of his indulgence for her. For Viola, the song's "fair cruel maid" (2.4.61) is Orsino, and the song represents how her unreturned longing for him is killing her. Through the words of Feste's songs, Shakespeare tries to indirectly explain the reality of his intricate plotline and emotions of the characters.

During many scenes,...

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...e how important diction is, and also how deceiving it can be. This awareness helps her to choose her words more carefully from that point on. Though his reasons for using puns vary each time, their collective message is best summed up by Feste himself when he states, "A sentence is/ but a chevril glove to a good wit. How quickly the/ wrong side may be turned outward" (3.1.11-13).

Through Feste's clever use of language, he takes on a role separate from his character. Although he partakes in the play itself, the fool also becomes the narrator. While voicing what he clearly perceives, Feste is able to make others more aware of what is going on around them, and also within them. By juggling both the roles of character and narrator, Feste is able to artfully bring forth the truth not only to the characters, but also to the audience. Furthermore, by expressing his opinions in such subtle ways, as through songs, raillery and wordplay, the fool fulfills his purpose without a chance of punishment or feelings of resentment. Therefore, Shakespeare's decision to make a character such as a court jester the narrator was as befitting, subtle and ingenious as Feste's words themselves.

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