Twelfth Night Comedy by Shakespeare and Its Effect on Other Writings

Twelfth Night Comedy by Shakespeare and Its Effect on Other Writings

While Great Expectations and Gulliver’s Travels were not written as comedy, humor is seen in them. The comedy in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night can be related to the comedy in those writings, although Shakespeare used a variety of comedic techniques, not used in either Great Expectations or Gulliver’s Travels. The comedy in Twelfth Night varies greatly from the comedy in Great Expectations and Gulliver’s Travels at times. Irony is a common comedic element seen in all three works. Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels is commonly known as a satire, therefore it uses improbable irony as a tool. The misfortune, ridiculousness and contradict of Gulliver’s adventures is funny. For instance, he, an almighty human, was tied down and restrained by people the size of his finger. In Twelfth Night irony is also used. For example, Olivia fell in love with the woman, viola, dressed as a man, Cesario, who was to woo Olivia, for the duke. It is an unexpected, contradicting turn, mostly because of the couple’s gender, but also because of the going-ons during which it happened. In the following Viola finds out of Olivia’s love:

“Viola: I left no ring with her. What means this lady?

Fortune forbid my outside have not charmed her!

She made good view of me, indeed so much

That sure methought her eyes had lost her tongue,

For she did speak in starts distractedly.

She loves me, sure! The cunning of her passion

Invites me in this churlish messenger.”

(Shakespeare, Act 2, Scene 2, Lines 15 and 20)

The love triangle Shakespeare uses to twist the plot is ironic. In Great Expectations is the main comedic tool, although it is not a satire. It is ironic how Estella, who was out to break Pip’s heart at the beginning, has her own heart broken and seems to reconcile with him in the end, appearing to intend to never again part,

“I took her hand in mine, and we went out of the ruined place; and as the morning mists had risen long ago when I first left the forge, so the evening mists were rising now, and in all the broad expanse of tranquil light they showed to me, I saw no shadow of another parting form her.” (Dickens, 516)

Because common aspects from Shakespeare’s writing can be seen in Great Expectations and Gulliver’s Travels, and similar comedic techniques were used in the writings, the works’ comedy ...

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...he past and how doing that prevents future. This is also seen in Twelfth Night with Orsino dwelling on Olivia. Another idea Great Expectations has in common with Twelfth Night is the general plot. The book’s general theme can be seen as influence from Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, when Malvolio was invoked by Maria’s letter, he expected Olivia to be interested in him.

“Olivia: God comfort thee! Why doust thou smile so, and kiss they hand so off?

Maria: How do you, Malvolio?

Malvolio: At your request! Yes, nightingales answer daws!

Maria: Why appear you with this ridiculousness before my lady?

Malvolio: ‘Be not afraid of greatness.’ ‘Twas well writ.

Olivia: what meanest thou by that, Malvolio?”

(Shakespeare, Act 3, Scene 4, Lines 25 and 30)

Clearly, Great Expectations uses irony and has traits influenced by Shakespeare.

Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night offers comedy in every scene. It has obviously influenced some of today’s literature and common comedic aspects can by seen in all three works. Each novel clearly has human insight to offer, all true is certain circumstances. Certainly, Great Expectations and Gulliver’s Travels has been influenced by Shakespeare’s writing.