Discuss the dramatic significance of Feste in Twelfth Night

Feste is an observer. He sees by dint of people. Though hes a physique of entertainer, who allow only per framing for money, what he chooses to sing to people is purposely relevant. People find the truth truly hard to deal mindh Peace, you scalawaghere comes my lady. This story shows people avoiding the truth at every level Festes insight Ben Kingsley on Feste Twelfth shadow by Trevor NunnFool. Clown. Words infinitely linked to soul who isnt taken seriously. This is the case with Feste. For example, fool in King Lear was give noticelessly existence threatened with hangings and beatings, but this was only as he was a witty fool. A master, with Feste in Twelfth Night, who also is threatened with hangings, due to his absence. Feste doesnt worship this threat, and in fact makes a joke of it do by maria and victimisation a sexual pun at the same time, e.g. cosmosy a safe(p) hanging prevents a bad wedding This confidence comes from the fact that it wasnt their stemma to simply entrust amusement, but to also make critical comments and fork up advice, as Olivia asks him Whats a drunken man like, fool? and since he is an allowed fool he was subject to take what he thinks, wi gravitational constantt fear of punishment theres no revile in an allowed fool.Feste and Olivia sport the most personal relationship, as Feste knew her nonplus. Olivia uses Feste as a friend, advisor and joker. She says Take the fool a meansyare a dry fool, signalling she has no use for him as he flockt amuse her, but accepts him when he is humorous, doth he not mend?She seeks out Whats a drunken man like fool? and once answered, she immediately acts on it Go thou and seekFeste is connected only to Olivias home plate. The audience are told Lady Olivias father took lots delight in him and after a long trip, it is her house hold on that he retreats to, and her reference to his fooling growing old gives the impression of him being somewhat for a long time-a time for which they fuck off been friends.Read this Puns in the splendourBut he also has the ability to distance himself from everyone, much(prenominal) as living by the tabor unsociable, and the way he speaks I go I will, I can yield- he doesnt need assistance. Moreover, he is constantly mocking people with puns and soliloquy- stageing the part of the fool-but his interaction is once more limited by the way he is always exiting photographs- 1v, 3i and 2iv.As well as being preposterous, Feste is probably the most perceptive casing in the shirk. He comments on people in ways different characters over look, whether be their appearance or their mind. For example, in performance ii iv, he point blank make outs Orsino what he thinks of him, saying his mind is very opal and the tailor make thy doublet of changeful taffeta (a silk which changes colour). The joke here is Feste intercourse Orsino that he is very fickle and has a very unsure mood, so changeable that he should have matching clo thes. These mood changes echoes lines, Enough no to a greater extent where Orsino sings to us of his have a go at it sickness.Feste goes on to say that he is so changeable that he would sail around the world to justify purposeless hum and courage. Feste hardly bangs Orsino, who in turn scarcely knows Feste, but for Feste to cast this visualise shows his perceptiveness. This view is so accurate, that it leads Orsino to make Cesario go to Olivias and tell her that his love is to a greater extent noble than the world.Furthermore, he suspiciously notices genus genus Viola, and is the only one to start suspecting her, air out thee a beard he says, hinting that he knows of her such disguise. Festes perception was reinforced in Trevor Nunns production of Twelfth Night, where- at the end of the play- Feste gives Viola a necklace, A necklace she abandoned in characterization 1ii -on the seacoast, screening he has always know of Violas situation and was always playing along, again show ing his nature.Festes LanguageThe sophisticated way Feste speaks allows him to climb the social ladders of Illyria and be able to talk with Lord Orsino, Sir Toby and Fabian. Which becomes momentous when he is able to beguile himself out of situations or even to make former(a) people react, which may otherwise be tricky and use his language skills to make mockery. such as the the more fool, Madonna, to mourn for your brothers soul This scene is the first with Feste, and he has proved to the audience that he is nowhere near being a fool. So far from it, in fact he has proven someone of a higher social status to be one This echoes the acknowledgment there is no slander in an allowed fool that- even though Olivia is in mourning for her brother and father- fools would be allowed to make these daring jokes.However, Feste has proved devil things here, the first is that he is not dry and the second that he can provide the humour if is someone does minister occasion to him or invites h im to make that good. some other key figure of Festes language is his uses of Latin. The few times he negotiation and refers in Latin are in the presence Olivia or Orsino, again proving his versatility of talking appropriately with people and it also demonstrating his education to the audience.All his Latin sayings convey messages. For example, the first to Olivia cucullus non facit monachum, referring to an overriding theme in the play dont attempt by outward appearances, prepares her for his foolery.Another Latin reference is to Orisino in wager 5. Primo, secundo, terito is a good play although simply begging for a terce coin he does it in such a manner, that he deserves it.Festes forms do hold a dramatic function, which change depending on the scene they hold signification and are sung for a reason. Such as when Feste asks, would you have a love breed or a nervous strain of good life? The choice reflects the audiences and the characters mood at this current moment in the play, or as he said in his final song And well strive to please you every day.Festes songs seem to have a significant meaning, either used to create dramatic effects or conciliate/ echo his feelings about a situation in a scene. In Act 2, Feste sings Come away, Come away, death, a melancholy song to Orsino about a lover who dies for love, which echoes Orsinos mood and his situation. The listener can put down into this as Orsino being the lover and Olivia being the maid, making sense as the lover is slain.The lyric poem that are used mirror what Orsino has already said, such as My partshare it hold similar meaning to that in If music be the food of loveOrsino then immediately acts on the song and tells Viola/ Cesario to go to Olivias.This is one example of the role of Feste do we value what he says or laugh at what he says? Orsino precious what he said (we know this as he dedicates Viola to go to Olivia and tell her that nature pranks her in attracts my soul not her money).Howev er, after the song is finished, Feste casts a point blank insight of Orsino, which creates stress, especially with the use of words like corpse, pain and bones shall be thrown words that are associated with death. Causing a melancholy atmosphere in the scene. Its as if the song(s) introduced the sadness, and set the way for Orsino and Viola to discuss love, Our showswill and pang of heart.Heres a good example of the dramatic consequence of Feste- creating tension. With the next scene starting in comedy, the drama in all(prenominal) scene seems heightened due to the immense contrast. Festes appearance in the play is held mop up until act 1iv. His contribution to the play is revealed through Wit, ant be thy willa foolish wit. Indicating Festes presence is not merely comic relief through foolish acts and show that the role of the fool requires much intelligence, or being a wise man, a church man or someone has all their wits about them I wear not motley in my brain.Festes most sign ificant song comes at the end. He is left alone on stage to sing it- that seems unusual as hes always sung for people. The situation talent echo his actual feelings present(a) in the song loneliness, toleration, and rejection.In Trevor Nunns version, the song was evidently melancholy which I felt this was a good insight as it draws a synthetical link to pathetic fallacy the rain it raineth every day and wind.The sense of journey through the song is reinforced with links of Viola and Sebastians journey- which ends in lovers meetingThe meaning of this epilogue suggests that every person goes through life, with its vicissitudes, but he/she mustiness remember that it raineth every day or there is always unpredictability.Festes contribution to the themes of love is essential to the understanding of the plays messages. The clowns most profound comments often take the form of song O mistress mine, where are you roaming?Youths a stuff will not endure.Its in this song where we could poss ibly see Feste uncovering Viola and dictating the whole play. Trip no further, pretty sweeting where the pretty sweeting may be Viola, and the wise mans son is Feste. If this is so, then it suggests that Viola-Orsino may end up as lovers.This song is performed due to the requests of Sir Toby for a love-song, which plays on the events of Twelfth Night itself by echoing the cheerfulness of this play and how the uncertainty of whats to come shouldnt be a negative prospect as in delay there lies no plenty. Feste foresees events that will occur afterwards in the play, when he speaks of journeys ending in lovers meeting, he hints at the resolution in which characters are married.At the end of the play, Shakespeare provides an epilogue, like other plays, such as A Midsummer Nights envisage and Alls Well That Ends Well. However, unlike these, Feste sings it. The song is about Feste growing up, about being tolerating in childhood, rejected in adult hood, unsuccessful in marriage and drunk in old agebut nothing rightfully considers, the actors will always try and please- talking directly to the audience.A fine re-iteration of the song What is loveyouths a stuff will not endure, telling the audience that we should enjoy the present because the futures is as unpredictable as the abide it could be good e.g. Viola-Orsino and Sebastian-Olivia, or it could be terrible e.g. Malvolio.Festes ability to gain gender specific favour is distinct when encouraging Sir Toby to foil in ridiculing Malvolio O no, no, no, no, you dare not (where an Elizabethan audience would of received no, no, no, no and yes, yes) -no matter their social status. The reiterating it four negatives makes your two affirmatives. His sexual puns, such as he that is well hung would have gone down well with the men too.Feste can use word play, or puns, at specific points in the play to make the audience laugh or even add to the tension so far. A good example is in Festes first scene he that is well hanged in this world needs to fear no colours. The first interpretation of this pun is the word colours which can mean rival or war. So, logically, someone who is already dead cant fear.However, an Elizabethan audience could have heard it as collars (hangmens nooses) so they dont fear them. The Elizabethans enjoyed such punning jokes, and with Maria threatening Feste with death, and then Feste making the whole audience laugh, the dramatic significance of Feste is apparent.The role of FesteFestes intuition is comparable only to the perception of Viola. As twain characters are involved in both houses (Orsinos and Olivias) they rival each other in their knowledge and putting their wits against each other. Namely Act 3i, where, they both delight in using word play, a sentence is but a cheveril glove to a good wit- and later Viola saying I understand you sir, showing him that she is just as clever. Viola seems to be the only character that recognises Festes true intelligence This familiar sp irit is wise enough to play the foolquite taint their wit. Exhibiting Violas awareness of Festes ability to read people in order to say the right thing at the right time. Through this keen annotation by Viola, she is acknowledging that may seen through her own disguise. Although Feste never openly claims to know of Violas deceptive dress, it is indicated that he might be on to her Now Jovesend thee a beard.Festes ability to control the audience becomes apparent wherever Shakespeare treasured to portray thoughts or morals, as he would make Feste tell the audience puns or songs. In Act 1v, he says many an(prenominal) a good hanging prevents a bad marriage communicates as if you are well hung then you need not love, and if we look back, to Act 1, the Latin quote refers directly to how Shakespeare felt- therefore reinforcing Shakespeares values. Therefore, it is possible that Feste was the voice of Shakespeare, and if Shakespeare wanted to make the audience happy, for dramatic effec t or other, then he might use Feste to sing a song,When Feste says lines 359-354 in Act 5i, he quotes the things that Malvolio has said, and a feeling of what goes around comes around is created. The putting down of Malvolio would of been peculiarly enjoyed by the audience, because of his puritan no-fun nature, and therefore have a very erratic affect for them.The plot in Twelfth Night is convoluted. So fools might of been used in this play to underline and reinforce important separate of the plot for the audience, and make their songs and folly draw parallels to the play. In Twelfth Night, Feste sings to Malvolio She loves another. Feste has seen through Malvolio and knows of his affection for Olivia, and crudely tells him there is no likelihood for him, moreover, he already must know of Olivias affections for Viola.The fool in King Lear informs King Lear of the goings buns his back, where he is oblivious to them, but even though he is ratting the king, the audience may of also received the message.ConclusionThe Twelfth Night was known as the Feast of Fools, which is very similar to Feste the Fool. Making it passing significant, as the Feast of Fools was a time where a Lord of blackguard was appointed. An Elizabethan audience would of received this (intentional) similarity and therefore see Feste as this Lord of Ridicule.If Feste were this lord, then he would become the master of the household, for this short holiday period, and organise dances, folly, pranks and deceptions, in order to entertain the rest of the household. If which case, it would explain Festes songs, inebriety and of course dressing up as Sir Topas- all roles similar to that of a fool.Ironically, Feste is the only person not to be seen as the fool. Olivia is the fool, as she has go in love with a woman, Orisino is seen the fool, because Viola has tricked him into thinking she is a man. Sir Andrew comes across as the fool because of his foolish remarks, like taking the word ass liter ally and believing Pigrogromitus. Malvolio is the fool for dressing up in yellowcross-gartered stockingsIn conclusion, what makes the audience happy is the same thing as that which makes them sad, and Feste accomplishes this flawlessly. With his irony, puns, soliloquy, his songs and criticisms- he directs the play in a moving omniscient manner.