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"The Truth About Foolishness" In Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. - College Essays

"The Truth About Foolishness" In Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.

William Shakespeare used a unique device to explain how foolishness is an
unavoidable part of everyday life. He employed many specific examples of
foolishness in his comedy play titled Twelfth Night. Each of the characters he
created were all foolish in one way or another. Not only do the characters
entertain the audience, but also educate the audience as they portray mankind
avoiding obvious truth.

Shakespeare takes a humorous approach to expose the ways we fall prey to
pride, vanity and self-deception. As the story unfolds, the characters
discover their faults before they can do any real harm to themselves or anyone
else. Fortunately, only embarrassment or humiliation are the ...

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as he considers
himself a gentleman.

His attempts to flirt with Maria by showing how clever he is fail when Sir
Toby advises him to accost, in other words, to woo her. Sir Andrew thinks
"accost" is her name as he addresses her, "Good Mistress Mary Accost-" (I, III,
54). After his embarrassing introduction to Maria, Sir Andrew tries to salvage
his dignity by laughing at himself as he says, "Methinks sometimes I have no
more wit than a Christian or an ordinary man has. But I am a great eater of
beef, and I believe that does harm to my wit" (I, III, 83-86). It is clear
that Sir Andrew is easily taken advantage of at his expense.

Another way foolishness is exposed, is through love. For example, Malvolio
loves nobody but himself. Although he is Olivia's household servant, he
considers himself better than others. It is his vanity, arrogance, and pride
that causes Malvolio to act foolishly. Olivia says, "O, you are sick of self
love, Malvolio, and taste with a ...

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"The Truth About Foolishness" In Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.. (2006, March 15). Retrieved January 11, 2026, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Truth-About-Foolishness-Shakespeares-Twelfth-Night/42792

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""The Truth About Foolishness" In Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.." Essayworld.com. March 15, 2006. Accessed January 11, 2026. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Truth-About-Foolishness-Shakespeares-Twelfth-Night/42792.

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PAPER DETAILS

Added: 3/15/2006 10:02:51 PM
Category: Arts
Type: Premium Paper
Words: 953
Pages: 4

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