Night Essay, Research Paper
A
fool can be defined in many meanings according to the Oxford English Dictionary
On Historical Principles. The word could mean "a silly person", or
"one who professionally counterfeits folly for the entertainment of
others, a jester, clown" or "one who has little or no reason or
intellect" or "one who is made to appear to be a fool" (word
originated from North Frisian). In William Shakespeare’s comedy, Twelfth Night,
Feste the clown is not the only fool who is subject to foolery. He and many
other characters combine their silly acts and wits to invade other characters that
"evade reality or rather realize a dream", while "our sympathies
go out to those". "It is natural that the fool should be a prominent &
attractive figure and make an important contribution to the action" in
forming the confusion and the humor in an Elizabethan drama. In Twelfth Night,
the clown and the fools are the ones who combine humor & wit to make the
comedy work. Clowns,
jesters, and Buffoons are usually regarded as fools. Their differences could be
of how they dress, act or portrayed in society. In Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night,
Feste’s role in this Illyrian comedy is significant because "Illyria is a
country permeated with the spirit of the Feast of Fools, where identities are
confused, ‘uncivil rule’ applauded…and no harm is done". "In Illyria
therefore the fool is not so much a critic of his environment as a ringleader,
a merry-companion, a Lord of Misrule. Being equally welcome above and below
stairs.." makes Feste significant as a character. In Twelfth Night, Feste
plays the role of a humble clown employed by Olivia’s father playing the
licensed fool of their household. We learn this in Olivia’s statement stating
that Feste is "an allowed fool"(3.1:95) meaning he is licensed,
privileged critic to speak the truth of the people around him. We also learn in
a statement by Curio to the Duke that Feste is employed by Olivia’s father.
"Feste the jester, my lord; a fool that the Lady Olivia’s father took much
delight in"(2.4:11-12). Feste
is more of the comic truth of the comedy. Although he does not make any
profound remarks, he seems to be the wisest person within all the characters in
the comedy. Viola remarks this by saying "This fellow’s wise enough to
play the fool"(3.1:62). Since Feste is a licensed fool, his main role in
Twelfth Night is to speak the truth. This is where the humor lies, his
truthfulness. In one example he proves Olivia to be a true fool by asking her
what she was mourning about. The point Feste tried to make was why was Olivia
mourning for a person who’s soul is in heaven? FESTE: Good madonna,
why mourn’st thou? OLIVIA: Good Fool,
for my brother’s death. FESTE: I think his
soul is in hell, madonna. OLIVIA: I know his
soul is in heaven, fool. FESTE: The more fool, madonna, to mourn for your brother’s soul,
being in heaven. Take away the fool, gentlemen.Adding to the humor of the comedy, Feste, dresses up as
Sir Topaz, the curate and visits the imprisoned Malvolio with Maria and Sir
Toby. There he uses his humor to abuse Malvolio who is still unaware that he is
actually talking to the clown than to the real Sir Topas. Feste (disguised as
Sir Topaz) calls Malvolio a "lunatic" (4.2:23),
"satan"(4.2:32) and confuses him by wittingly making him a fool.
Throughout the play, Malvolio has always been the person who intentionally spoils
the pleasure of other people(killjoy). He is Feste’s worst nightmare in the
play, but in the end is triumphed over by Feste completely and is the only
character to show a negative attitude and a dignity reversed. "MALVOLIO:
I’ll be revenged on the whole pack of you!" (5.1:375) At the end of the
comedy, Feste, "is given the last word and is left in possession of the
stage". Maria,
Olivia’s companion is another person who seems enthusiastic in playing pranks
on other people. In Twelfth Night, she plays the unsuspecting role of a behind
the scene fool who gives ideas to Feste, Sir Andrew & Sir Toby to assist
her in her plans. In two incidents, she remains quiet while her plans are
carried out by either the Knights or the Clown. Part
of the humor that lies in this comedy is that Maria’s pranks are harsh &
cruel, using love and power (status of Olivia) to attack Malvolio, steward of
Olivia, who is "….sick of self love"(1.5:91). For this, Malvolio’s
greed for power ends himself locked up in a dark cell and is accused of being
mad. She also prepares Feste to disguise as Sir Topaz. This is seen in the
quote: "Nay,I prithee put on this gown and this beard; make him believe
thou are Sir Topas the curate; do it quickly. I’ll call Sir Toby the whilst."
(4.2:1,2,3) Combined with other fools, Maria helps make Twelfth Night a
hilariously funny comedy. Lastly,
Sir Toby Belch is another fool in Twelfth Night. His role is helping "on
the game of make-believe". Always convincing & encouraging the rich
Sir Andrew Aguecheek that he has a chance of winning Lady Olivia’s love. He is
similar to Feste, except he plays the role of a knight and is Olivia’s kinsman.
His role is similar to a fool because he depicts many pranks of a fool. For
example in Act II scene iii, while he was drunk he sings along with Feste when
Malvolio barges in to shut them up. Whenever there is a prank, Maria invites
Sir Toby to participate. One such prank was to assist Maria’s fake letter to
make Malvolio think Olivia is in love with him. Sir Toby’s make-believe scheme
works convincingly on Malvolio. Another prank was to accompany the disguised
Feste (Sir Topaz) into the dark cell where Malvolio was imprisoned. This
accompaniment was probably to assure Malvolio that the real Sir Topaz is
visiting him. Yet it is another make-believe scheme of Sir Toby. In
the Twelfth Night Film by Trevor Nunn, Ben Kinglsey portrayed Feste as a very
eerie and Clever. He was a bit of a loner as he did not really have anyone to
talk to. He Had a Dark side as many Muscians and jesters do. It was if he had a
much broader view of all the happenings in the play. For example he was the
only one that realised that Cesario wasn?t a man but he was a Woman (Viola). In Twelfth Night, the fools are the ones that control the
comedy and humor in the play. They assist in the make believe game and fool
around with characters who "evade reality or rather realize a dream".
In Twelfth Night, Feste, Maria and Sir Toby are the fools that make the comedy
work in many senses. They create the confusion through humor and it all works
out in the end to make William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night a really funny
Elizabethan play.