Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the many forms of deception that appear in Shakespeare's play "Twelfth Night." The writer explains how Shakespeare's use of language, disguise, and the self deception of his characters all contribute to the energy and subtlety of the play. The writer gives a summary of the play, showing how deception is woven into the plot and how his characters unfold as they deceive others and are themselves deceived. The paper concludes that at the end of the play, by admitting their lies and dropping their masks, all the characters except Malvolio seem to have solved their problems.

From the Paper:

"The seeds of deception planted by Viola in the beginning of the play begin to truly bloom when Olivia's admiration of Cesario becomes a public spectacle. Sir Andrew Aguecheek, Olivia's resident courtier, becomes enraged when he witnesses a display of the lady's desperate love of Cesario. A victim of deception and self-delusion, Sir Andrew has been presented to all by Sir Toby as the brilliant, young, and extremely eligible bachelor he believes himself to be, when in reality he is a bumbling moron. Sir Andrew and Sir Toby are the only characters in the story who bear the title, "Sir," implying knighthood. They also happen to be the two most disreputable and foolish of the cast. The irony of the misnomers is a form of deception in and of itself."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Shakespeare, William. Twelfth Night. Available at http://www.william-shakespeare.info/script-text-twelfth-night.htm

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