An Illyrian idyll : an honors thesis (HONRS 499)

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Authors
Phillips, Laura L.
Advisor
Kingery, Margaret
Issue Date
1998
Keyword
Degree
Thesis (B.?.)
Department
Honors College
Other Identifiers
Abstract

I have been fascinated for some time by the story of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. There are many interesting questions that are raised but never answered in the play. For example, Orsino switches his affections instantaneously from Olivia to Viola when it is revealed that Olivia is now married and Viola is a woman (and thus available). This belies the strength of his passion for Olivia, which is certainly Shakespeare's point; Orsino was never as constant as he protested. Will his affections remain fixed on Viola now, or will they change with the next breeze? Orsino and Olivia both behave impulsively, passionately, while Viola/Cesario is the cool-headed and practical counterpoint to both of them. Will either of them ever grow up? Viola demonstrates great resourcefulness when it is required, but how will she behave when she returns to the traditional role of woman and wife?I decided to answer some of these questions for myself by continuing the tale, writing a sequel to Twelfth Night. I made no serious attempt to use Shakespearean language, or to adhere to any particular time or place. Illyria is a fantasyland, where anything can happen, within the limits of the physical laws that bind our own world (no magical or supernatural incidents). My only rule was to try to remain true to the personalities of the characters as they were originally portrayed.In order to familiarize myself with the play, I read the text, watched two filmed versions, and read books and a collection of essays about the play. Following is a list of sources that I used:Twelfth Night, by David Edland, published by Longman in 1973.The First Night of Twelfth Night, by John Leslie Hotson, published by Macmillan in 1954.Twentieth Century Interpretations of Twelfth Night; a collection of critical essays, edited by Walter N. King, published by Prentice-Hall in 1968.Twelfth Night directed by Trevor Nunn and produced by Fine Line Features, 1996.Live From Lincoln Center production of Twelfth Night directed by Nicholas Hytner and broadcast on August 3, 1998.