12th Night

This was actually the third time I have had to read 12^th Night, but I actually didn’t mind it. I find it to be better than having to read Romeo and Juliet year after year. The comedy aspect of it is decent. I love the way Shakespeare makes it seem so easy that all of the characters fall for his tricks. I love how immediately Olivia falls in love with Cesario, and no one has a clue until Sebastian walks in that Cesario is really Viola. Was Viola that convincing as a man?

            Sebastian has the best life throughout this whole play. He basically does nothing and receives everything in return. First, his ship is wrecked. His sister is forced into cross-dressing and has to play a servant, while he tends to just bump into Antonio who magically falls in love with him. Antonio not only risks his life to bring Sebastian to Orsino’s court but even hands out money to him. Must be nice for Sebastian considering he just met the guy. Then, he basically wins the lotto when Olivia immediately marries him after he meets her for the first time. I feel as though Shakespeare may have given men preferential treatment while writing this play. Viola is a woman so she has to dress as a man to be safe in a new place, while her brother just has to wash up on shore. The comedy is farfetched, but it definitely drew audiences.