The Foolishness in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night

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The Foolishness in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night

William Shakespeare used a unique device to explain how foolishness is an

unavoidable part of everyday life. He employed many specific examples of

foolishness in his comedy titled Twelfth Night. Each of the characters he

created were all foolish in one way or another. Not only do the characters

entertain the audience, but also educate the audience as they portray mankind

avoiding obvious truth.

Shakespeare takes a humorous approach to expose the ways we fall prey to

pride, vanity and self-deception. As the story unfolds, the characters

discover their faults before they can do any real harm to themselves or anyone

else. Fortunately, only embarrassment or humiliation are the result.

Combinations of comedy, personality and irony are all qualities each character

reveals to exhibit the many types of fools we can all be.

The most common type of fool in society is usually the simpleton, or a

"natural" fool. Sir Andrew Aguecheek is an excellent example. Although Sir

Andrew is funny, it is not intentional. His faults include a lack of wit, a

tendency to be easily amused, and the opportunity to be manipulated by others

to be accepted. His foolishness is revealed innocently, as he considers

himself a gentleman.

His attempts to flirt with Maria by showing how clever he is fail when Sir

Toby advises him to accost, in other words, to woo her. Sir Andrew thinks

"accost" is her name as he addresses her, "Good Mistress Mary Accost-" (I, III,

54). After his embarrassing introduction to Maria, Sir Andrew tries to salvage

his dignity by laughing at himself as he says, "Methinks sometimes I have no

more wit than a Christian or an ordinary man has. But I am a great eater of

beef, and I believe that does harm to my wit" (I, III, 83-86). It is clear

that Sir Andrew is easily taken advantage of at his expense.

Another way foolishness is exposed, is through love. For example, Malvolio

loves nobody but himself. Although he is Olivia's household servant, he

considers himself better than others. It is his vanity, arrogance, and pride

that causes Malvolio to act foolishly. Olivia says, "O, you are sick of self

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