Literature
How does Shakespeare view social
class in Twelve Night?
Done by: Hannah (16), Linda (25), Yi En (27)
Intro- How does Shakespeare view
social class in Twelfth Night?
Through characters such as Maria and Sir
Andrew, Shakespeare challenges the
hierarchy present in Elizabethan era social
class. Shakespeare views the lower class to be
more disciplined than the upper class and the
upper class is portrayed as foolish,
hedonistic, and selfish.
PEEL 1- How does Shakespeare
view social class in Twelfth Night?
P:The upper class are presented as foolish. Though the upper class are perceived as educated,
people such as Maria and Feste, from the lower social classes have proven themselves to be
more educated.
E:This can be seen from the banter between Sir Andrew and Maria. In Act 1 Scene 3, Sir Andrew
says, "Fair lady, do you think you have fools in hand?" Maria then says, "Sir I have not you by the
hand". Sir Andrew then replies, "Marry but you shall have; and here's my hand"
E: Though Sir Andrew is a knight, and is of a higher social class than Maria, he is unable to
understand that Maria is actually calling him a fool. As someone from the upper class, he ought to
be more educated. However, when talking to Maria, he is unable to understand that Maria is
actually mocking him and calling him a fool. Through this, we can see that Sir Andrew is foolish,
and appears dim-witted as he is unable to understand Maria's words and was completely lost with
her mocking and jokes.
P: This can be further seen from the quote, "I heard my lady talk of it yesterday; and of a foolish knight
that you brought in one night here to be her wooer" Many have testified to Sir Andrew's
foolishness, Maria's constant mocking, and calling him a "foolish knight". Although Sir Toby claims
that Sir Andrew has some positive traits, Maria still insists that he is foolish. Even Malvolio calls
him a foolish knight. With this repeated emphasis, we can thus see Sir Andrew's foolishness and
dim-wittedness.
L: Thus, the upper class are presented as foolish through Shakespeare's portrayal of Sir Andrew.
PEEL 2- How does Shakespeare
view social class in Twelfth Night?
P: Shakespeare views the lower class to be more disciplined than the upper
class.
E: Sir Toby who is of the upper class, is undisciplined.
He says ‘Confine! I’ll confine myself no finer than I am; these clothes are good
enough to drink in’.
E: This shows that Sir Toby does not care if he dresses appropriately or not
and his only criterion for dressing is to be good enough to drink only. He
does not care about the public expectations of the upper class being
properly dressed and well-behaved. Yet Sir Toby has presented himself to
be the black sheep as he goes against the stereotypical expectations.
P: Furthermore, Maria says, ‘my lady, takes great expectations of your ill
hours’. This shows that he does not come punctually and thus emphasising
that he is undisciplined. This also shows that Maria who is of the lower
social class knows how to be disciplined, as she must have come punctually
before she can criticise anyone. She also takes the initiative to reprimand
Sir Toby which show that she is obedient to Olivia while Sir Toby did not
even come punctually.
L: Thus,Shakespeare views the lower class to be more disciplined than the
PEEL 3- How does Shakespeare
view social class in Twelfth Night?
P: Shakespeare views the upper class as selfish and this is portrayed through Orsino and
Olivia.
E: Olivia is full of grief due to her brother's death, thus "till seven years heat shall not behold
her face at ample view".
E: Out of love for her brother, she claims to mourn for seven years over the loss of him.
However, since her brother is dead, Olivia is in charge of the household, but Olivia is
neglecting her responsibilities because she is wallowing in her own misery. Olivia is selfcentered as she does not show interest in anything as she is preoccupied in her sorrow
over the loss of her brother.
E:Similarly, Orsino ignores Curio when Curio says, “Will you go hunt, my Lord?” Orsino
continues describing his love for Olivia by saying, “when mine eyes did see Olivia first,
Methought she purged the air of pestilence.”
E: Orsino, just like Olivia, is preoccupied with his love for Olivia and shows no interest in
anything else. Although he is the Duke of Illyria, he ignores his duties as a duke and his
thoughts are all about his love for Olivia.
P: I feel that both Orsino and Olivia should not let themselves be overwhelmed by their
emotions and they should give importance and show interest towards their duties and
responsibilities.
L: Orsino and Olivia belong to the upper social class but they only indulge in their emotions
and nothing else. Therefore, their insistence of their ‘love’ highlights the selfishness of
the upper class who are fixed only on themselves.
PEEL 4- How does Shakespeare
view social class in Twelfth Night?
P: Shakespeare views the upper class to be hedonistic. This is portrayed through Sir
Toby and Sir Andrew. They indulge in merry-making, partying, drinking and dancing
and they have no concern for other matters.
E: This can be seen when Maria says "that quaffing and drinking will undo you" Sir Toby
drinks frequently, and Maria is trying to advise Sir Toby to stop drinking as it will harm
his health.
E: This shows that Sir Toby has extent his love for drinking that he drinks so much which
could harm his health. Maria would then try to stop him from drinking but to no avail.
Furthermore, Maria says "They that add, moreover, he's drunk nightly in your
company." This shows that Sir Andrew also joins in Sir Toby to drink and indulge in
social vices. Even though Sir Andrew should not engage in these social vices but
instead he should be self-disciplined in order to woo Olivia, he gets influenced by Sir
Toby and joins him in indulging in revelry.
P: Through Sir Toby, Shakespeare mocks the upper class as they partake and indulge in
revelry. Sir Toby's drunkenness and constant merry-making defies the sociallyaccepted behaviour that is expected from the upper class. As a knight, Sir Toby
should be more concerned about other more important matters. Yet, he indulges in
merry-making, partying, and drinking, only concerned about his own indulgence.
Through characters such as Sir Toby, we are able to see the subversion of hierarchy
in Elizabethan era social class.
L: Thus, we can see that Shakespeare views the upper class as hedonistic.
Conclusion- How does Shakespeare
view social class in Twelve Night?
Though the upper class are perceived as educated, well-respected and
learned, Shakespeare's portrayal of the upper class in Twelfth Night
challenges this social expectation of the upper class. Shakespeare uses
characters such as Maria, Feste, Sir Toby and Sir Andrew to mock the
hierarchy in Elizabethan era social class. For example, although the upper
class ought to be educated, Maria, a mere servant from the lower class is
able to mock the foolishness of upper class members like Sir Andrew. Thus,
we can see that Shakespeare views the upper class as foolish, hedonistic,
selfish, and undisciplined.
Question 2
•
How does Shakespeare view gender roles in
Twelfth Night?
Intro
The Elizabethan era was a male-dominated society. Men
were of a higher ranking than women, and were
considered better than women. However, through
Shakespeare's portrayal of characters such as Olivia and
Viola, Shakespeare challenges the notion of a female
role, questioning gender role stereotypes and confusing
what women should, and should not do. This can be seen
through the subversion of gender roles in courtship and
in the household, as well as the confusion of gender
roles.
PEEL 1
P: There is a subversion of a female's role in courtship. In the Elizabethan era,
women were stereotyped as passive and inactive in courtship. Societal
expectations state that women ought to wait for the males to pursue them,
rather than the females pursue the males. However, the roles of courtship
are reversed in Twelfth Night. This can be seen through Olivia and Cesario.
E: Olivia says, "Run after that same peevish messenger, The County's man. He
left this ring behind him"
E: She sends Malvolio to run after Cesario to pass him the ring in order to get
Cesario to return again. Through this, we can see that Olivia is in fact, taking
ownership of the relationship and is wooing Cesario directly.
P: This can be further seen from her proclaiming her love for Cesario, she says,
"love thee so that, maybe all thy pride, Nor wit nor reason can my passion
hide" Olivia openly declares and proclaims her love for Cesario. Through
Shakespeare's portrayal of Olivia, females are portrayed as having the
authority, the choice to pursue as well.
L:Thus, we are able to see the reversal of gender roles in courtship, portrayed
through Olivia.
Point form 2
P: Cross-dressing of Viola causes confusion of gender roles
E: "fortune forbid my outside have not charmed her" as Olivia "were better love
a dream" - Viola’s disguise as a man is causing her confusion and she
hopes that Olivia does not fall in love with her as Olivia’s love is hopeless.
E: Viola - in no danger of falling in love with Olivia (Viola is aware of the gender
boundaries). However, Olivia - helplessly falls in love with Viola (Olivia does
not know that Viola is actually a woman who is cross-dressing). Viola crossdressing - resulted in Viola herself being troubled because although Olivia's
pursuit is futile, Viola cannot stop Olivia from falling in love with her
P: Viola's cross-dressing - reason she has to keep her love for Orsino to
herself. "As I am man, my state is desperate for my master's love." - Viola
longs to be loved by Orsino, but she is bound by her physical gender
boundaries as she disguise as a man.
L: Thus, we are able to see the confusion and problems caused by Viola's
cross-dressing.
Point form 3
P: Subversion of Female's role in household. Males are supposed to be the
dominant figure of the household. However, Olivia is now the head of the
household.
E: Olivia says "A virtuous maid, the daughter of a count . That died some
twelfth month since, then leaving her In the protection of his son, her
brother, Who shortly also died"
E: This shows that Olivia has been given the role of being the head of the
household due to the death of her brother and father.
P:This goes against the societal expectations of the Elizabethan era, which was
a male-dominated society. Women were of a lower ranking than men, and
were considered inferior to male. Through this, Olivia even gets to have
control of the males in the household, such as Sir Toby, Sir Andrew and
even allow her to pursue Cesario.
L: Thus, we are able to see the subversion of female's role in household through
Shakespeare's portrayal of Olivia as head of household.
Conclusion
In Twelfth Night we can see that Shakspeare challenges the
notion of the female role. He questions the typical gender
stereotypes through characters such as Viola, and Olivia.
Shakespeare portrays women as being equal to the men,
through the use of gender roles. For example, though
the Elizabethan era was a male-dominated society, he
portrays women as having the authority to pursue the
men, though this goes against societal expectations.
Thus, we can see that Shakspeare challenges the society
to attain gender equality.
as a subversion of what society expects of them
upper class > not meticulous in dressing and selfish
lower class > witty and more educated (not even expected to be
educated
PEEL 1: Sir toby: Confine! I’ll confine myself no finer than I am; these clothes are
good enough to drink in.
shows that sir toby is unconcerned / does not care about how
people see him as and just indulges into drinking and merrymaking with no concerned about other things.
subversion of social class as higher social class are supposed to
be careful
THESE ARE JUST NOTES TAKEN IN CLASS 
•
lower social class to be more witty and
educated when they are not expected to be
educated at all
E: banter of Maria and Sir andrew
HAVE TO EXPLAIN WORDPLAY. if not use
other easier examples
showing exact opposite of common thinking.
THIS ONE ALSO OK Thanks. 