Twelfth Night: As a Romantic Comedy

 

William Shakespeare has written many romantic comedies. Twelfth Night is one of the finest comedies of the author. We know that a romantic comedy is a play in which the romantic elements are mingled with comic elements. It is a form of comedy that deals with love. Love, at first sight, is often its main theme. Generally, a romantic comedy starts with some problems that make the union of the lover difficult. But it ends with their happy union.

Twelfth Night possesses certain features which are common to all romantic comedies of Shakespeare. It is based on love leading to marriage. It is a tale of love at first sight. Not one or two of the characters are in love, but all are in love. Twelfth Night opens with a note of love. The duke is in love with Olivia, Olivia is in love with Viola (disguised as Cesario) and Viola is in love with the Duke. Sir Andrew and Malvolio both love Lady Olivia and want to marry her. The entire fifth act echoes the wedding bells and offers a happy ending.

In Shakespearean romantic comedies, female characters play an important role. This predominance gives the play an air of romance. In this play, the entire story revolves around the two female characters named Viola and Olivia. Even the chief male characters find their significance due to them.

The atmosphere of Twelfth Night is full of mirth and laughter. From the beginning to the end the play presents a beautiful love story. When the play opens we find a Duke who is panting for Olivia. Viola in the guise of a boy gets a job with the Duke. She has fallen in love with him, though she keeps it a secret. Since the Duke has a great love for Olivia, he sends Viola to her to plead for him. Viola is good-looking and charming. She wins the heart of Olivia. This triangular love makes this play interesting and romantic.

The fifth and final act of the play shows a happy ending. In this act, we find Sebastian, the twin brother of Viola. He is very smart. His arrival solves the problem. All mysteries are exposed and almost all the characters get their due share of cheerfulness. This happy ending makes the play highly romantic.

A happy blending of fact and fiction is a very important characteristic of Twelfth Night. The person and the places, the plot and the setting are all imaginary. They have been given romantic touch by William Shakespeare. Some characters like Fest, Sir Toby, Sir Andrew and Malvolio are humourous characters. They provoke laughter and create a romantic atmosphere in the play.

Music and song play important role in the comedies of William Shakespeare. They are the keynote of the Twelfth Night. The whole body of the play is studded with songs. In short, the song and music of the play provide this comedy with an excellent romantic atmosphere.

To conclude, Twelfth Night is the purest and merriest comedy that Shakespeare wrote ever. Dowden has rightly called this play ‘Joyous, refined and romantic.’