The Theme of Gender in "Twelfth Night"

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses the issue of biological love which plays a weak part in determining how lovers find one another, and how learned behaviors in regards to social norms in males and females deceive proponents of biological instinct. The paper describes how Olivia is quickly fooled by Viola, and the intricate disguise used to veil the sexes is proof of how biology played little in the deception of this play.

From the Paper:

"The theme of romantic relationships through a biological and gender-based analysis will be pursued in this study of Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare. By analyzing the various characters that use disguise to shield their true gender identity, it is clear that biology sometimes plays a strong part in how certain characters behave toward one another. However, the gender roles that many of the characters reverse in this play, reveal a strong insinuation that gender is learned and may only be a superficial construct through fashion and social norms. In essence, biology and gender both taken on various forms in this play, but it is clear that gender roles take a greater precedence in Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare. The character Viola is a girl who has been shipwrecked, but has survived to tell the tale through Shakespeare's plot structure."

More papers on The Theme of Gender in "Twelfth Night" :

• Analytical Essay # 135350 : "Disguise in "Twelfth Night" by William Shakespeare"
• Analytical Essay # 47313 : "Twelfth Night": A Comedy of Incest"
• Analytical Essay # 34209 : " "Twelfth Night"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: