Twelfth Night is seen as one of Shakespeare’s more recognizable comedies, following a hilarious plot and characters as usual. If you’re not familiar with the plot, here’s a brief synopsis necessary for my argument: Viola and her twin brother Sebastian are ship wrecked, separated, and both think the other is dead.
Viola decides to dress as a man in order to get a job as a messenger in Duke Orsino’s court, where she falls in love with him. Orsino is in turn in love with Olivia, who sends Viola to her to show his love. In this process, Olivia falls in love with Viola, which is a problem because Viola is both a woman dressed as a man and in love with Orsino.
Sound confusing? Welcome to Shakespeare. In the end, Olivia and Sebastian end up together (remember the boy twin?) and Orsino and Viola end up together. There are many more characters and subplots, but for our purposes, this will suffice (if this plot sounds interesting, you should take the opportunity to see the show performed).
So how is this a feminist play, even though it was played by all male actors? My argument starts and ends with Viola. Our main character is a woman! How often does that happen in Shakespeare? Viola dresses as a man to find work and a living (which could be seen as anti-feminist because society necessitates her being a man in order to find work), but it’s also a brave decision. Viola reflects that bravery and confidence and defiance throughout the whole play, whether playing a man or not.
Olivia is another main character in the play and one who is good at playing the victim. This comes to a climax in the last act when everything is crashing down and she accuses Viola of mistreating her: “Ay me, detested! How I am beguiled!” (5.1.135). Viola throws right back at her: “Who does beguile you? Who does do you wrong?” (5.1.136).
I love this interaction because Olivia is playing victim the whole show and pines after this “guy” even though she repeatedly tells Olivia she has no interest. Poor Olivia won’t let Viola go and whines about it, while Viola throws it back in her face.
How is Olivia done wrong? Viola has told her countless times that she doesn’t love her, Olivia just won’t let go. Fortunately, everything ends happily in these relationships, but I love that Shakespeare isn’t afraid to point out how much of a diva Olivia is being.
I rest my case with Orsino. He complains the whole show of how in love with Olivia he is and tries everything he can to woo her. She never shows any interest and he stubbornly can’t accept that, in the same way as Olivia and Viola. He’s the male lead but he doesn’t “get the girl.”
Shakespeare had his hand in defeating the patriarchy when he didn’t give Orsino everything his heart desired. Of course, the story ends with Orsino finally opening his eyes and realizing Viola is a woman and he loved her all along.
But this wasn’t always the way Orsino wanted his story to end. I love that Shakespeare can still craft a happy ending but turn everyone’s objectives on their heads for the best.
It’s true that all male actors played these roles in Shakespeare’s time but fortunately, the play works extraordinarily well with an all female cast as well. If you don’t believe me, take the opportunity to see this feat performed. Shakespeare has a way of crafting relationships that speak to anyone, whether you’re a fan of him or not.
