Critical Anthology - Gender and Theatricality in Twelfth Night Flashcards
What does Shapiro suggest about Orsino’s acknowledgment of Viola in the final scene?
Orsino acknowledges Viola as a woman but continues to address her as a man, reflecting their homoerotic intimacy.
This moment challenges the conventional comic ending of heterosexual marriage.
How does the Elizabethan playhouse context contribute to the interpretation of Viola’s character?
Boys played both Viola/Cesario and Olivia, which undercut the conventional ending and highlighted the illusionism of theatre.
This casting choice adds layers to the gender dynamics in the play.
What do Viola’s impassioned speeches to Orsino reveal?
They articulate the nature of their relationship, emphasizing her deep feelings for him.
The speeches are accentuated by rhyme and mark a public declaration of her love.
According to John Russell Brown, what does Orsino’s sense of betrayal stem from?
It arises more from the loss of Cesario than from the loss of Olivia.
This reaction allows the audience to accept Orsino’s love for Viola upon her revelation.
How does Orsino address Viola after her true sex is revealed?
He refers to her as male even after knowing she is female, indicating continuity with their earlier intimacy.
This reflects the complexities of their relationship and Orsino’s emotional attachment.
In what way does Orsino express his desire for Viola’s female identity?
He asks to see her ‘in thy woman’s weeds’ and acknowledges her as ‘Orsino’s mistress’.
This signifies his acceptance of her true identity.
What is the significance of Orsino’s final couplet in the play?
It restates his desire to see Viola dressed in her female identity while maintaining a connection to their past relationship as Cesario.
This highlights the play’s exploration of gender and identity.
Fill in the blank: Orsino’s announcement of a ‘solemn combination’ refers to the joining of their _______.
[dear souls]
True or False: Orsino completely accepts Viola’s female identity from the beginning of the play.
False
He struggles with the transition from their earlier relationship as Cesario to accepting her as a woman.
What defines Orsino’s final attitude towards Viola’s gender?
Impatience or relief
Orsino’s attitude is not characterized by uncertainty or disappointment.
What does Viola’s attire signify despite her resumption of female identity?
Her male attire remains evident
The clothing and use of the name Cesario highlight the presence of the boy actor.
How does the audience perceive the emotional crosscurrents generated by the actor’s maleness?
Counter to the play’s drive toward heterosexual union
This occurs when the audience is reminded of the actor’s male identity.
What is usually dormant in the portrayal of heterosexual intimacy by an all-male company?
The principle of layers of gender identity
This principle becomes active when there are verbal references to cross-gender disguise.
In modern productions, how are allusions to Viola’s male identity typically portrayed?
Comic rather than reflexive or metatheatrical
Marriages appear ‘natural’ as the genders of characters match those of performers.
What was underscored by the final allusions to Viola’s male identity in the original production?
The existence of another level of pretense
This involved the understanding that the brides-to-be were young male actors.
