How Does The Theme Of Decorum Contribute To The Co

Name: Trupti Kolvekar
Essay: Twelfth Night
Candidate number:
Centre Number: 12286

How does the theme of decorum contribute to the comic world of “Twelfth Night”?

Decorum means that one is highly regarded and exhibits socially correct behaviour. This has been showed throughout the play ‘Twelfth Night’ by three types of persona: Characters with decorum, characters with no decorum and character that step out of their social class. They play a big role in the comic world of ‘Twelfth Night’ with their speech, behaviour and interactions with one another. Nevertheless, they also contribute to the seriousness and importance of demureness and upbringing in Shakespeare’s time.
The decorous characters complement the comedy of the play with their extreme fixation with certain elements of illustrating decorum. The first example is Malvolio, a pious, lifeless and punctilious steward, whom possess an obsession with religion -”…he is a kind of Puritan.” and considers himself from a higher class in society, which is noticed by Sir Toby. –“Art any more than a steward? Dost thou think, because thou art virtuous…” Malvolio feels his responsibilities are; to be loyal to Olivia and keep order of the other members of the household, this was shown when he was reprimanding and questioning the behaviour of Sir Toby, Feste and Maria. – “Have you no wit, manners, nor honesty, but to gabble like tinkers at this time of night?” He also refers to Olivia as “My Lady” which shows he respects her. Malvolio is seen on stage as a comic character since his body language and speech differ to other characters, he constantly acts righteous and talks aristocratically using “one” to describe someone’s action. –“One would think…” Some characters see him overbearing self-important and vanity. –“O you are sick of self-love, Malvolio…”
Another example is Olivia; she is a beautiful, dominant and neurotic countess living in Illyria. She is from a high class in society and her obsession is with the mourning of her deceased brother. -“A brother’s dead love, which she would keep fresh and lasting, in her sad remembrance.” In spite of this, Olivia falls in love with Cesario which breaks the policy of her upholding decorum. –“Even so quickly may one catch the plague?” Describing love as a disease, she is aware that it is wrong for her to fall for him, which is quite amusing, not only is he much younger than her and that he is of a lower class to her, but she is still mourning for her brother. – “(They say) she hath abjur’d the company and sight of men.” The dramatic irony also complements the comedy, as the audience know that Cesario is Viola in disguise.
Sir Toby can be described as a persona non grata as he is a vile, manipulating and ill-mannered man with no decorum whatsoever, together with his accomplice Sir Andrew, whom Sir Toby has duped into spending his money. –“Thou hadst need send for more money.” Both of them contrast with Malvolio and Olivia as they are complete opposites, hence the comic world deepens. These individuals show lack of respect as they come back home drunk and create a lot of commotion. – “…ye make an ale-house of my lady’s house…” Sir Toby also shows bad manners in front of his niece, Olivia. –“(Belches) A plague o’ these pickle-herring!” To add to the humour, he tries to conceal his drunkenness by blaming his blunder on pickled herrings, which is very transparent. On stage, Sir Toby is seen as a comic character with his body language and speech; he constantly acts flamboyantly and luridly in front of many characters, including those whom are very modest. His speech is often slurred, but can be considered quite quick-witted with hidden sexual innuendos.
One of the techniques used by Shakespeare is lower and inferior characters commenting on higher and superior characters; it is not only used in “Twelfth Night” but in many other plays too. It is quite amusing for the audience to hear the characters thoughts on those with high stature as they quite stereotypical and harsh. For examples Olivia is referred to a “Cataian” and Malvolio is referred to a “Peg-a-Ramsey”, both of which are extremely rude, but in my opinion very true.
Few characters step out of their social class and defy boundaries, in what seems as inappropriate behaviour and rudeness in front of higher classed characters, they too contribute to the humour. Maria, a devious, impatient and quick-witted lady-in-waiting of Olivia is an example. She reprimands Sir Toby and Sir Andrew, both of whom are from a higher class to her. – “What a caterwauling do you keep here?” However, there was an appropriate reason for her to do this and the humour came into place in the reactions of both Sir Toby and Sir Andrew, they completely ignored her and carried on with their charade. Maria also becomes impatient with Malvolio and insults him; he a decorous characters and is very respectable, but he is of the same social class of her. – “Go shake your ears.” This sparks her plan to humiliate him. Her quick-wittedness is quite humours with the conversations she has with Sir Toby, some of the jokes are inappropriate and it is not proper for them to talk to each other in this way, as they are from different social classes and it lacks decorum.
Another example Cesario, he steps out his boundaries by the way “he” talks to characters from a high status, the audience may find his interactions with the characters comical. Cesario, whom is Viola in disguise, is quite rude when talks to Olivia and her household. – “The rudeness that hath appeared in me have I learned from my entertainment.” He is very critical with his comments and mean. – “Excellently done, if God did all.” At times, he can be blunt and honest, but in a rude way. – “…you are too proud.”
Overall, I feel decorum and social class play a very crucial part in the comic world of “Twelfth Night” and contributes to a lot of the humour and comedy. It is shown in the characters speech, behaviour and interactions with one another. The characters either have decorum or not, both are very obsessive, extreme and show the comical side of appropriate or inappropriate behaviour to the audience.