Viola and Cesario, Viola and
Sebastian, Antonio, Malvolio
Northrop Frye's Green World
1). The rural world means that urban and business concerns can be forgotten.
2). Time is also forgotten. There are no clocks.
3). The older, restrictive generation can be dispersed with.
4). There is often gender confusion.
5). The mythical and real merge.
6). It is a temporary holiday atmosphere.
7). There is no social hierarchy.
The old world - urban rules.
Up until Scene 1, 2 and 3 when Viola dresses as a man
Green world - chaos and disorder
From scene 4 when Viola is in costume, up until it's resolved
New world - the resolved plot
when everyone's true identities are discovered
Mistaken identity, love of family, romance, opposing forces,
imprisonment, bullying, Puritanism, pleasure, madness,
self-deception, appearance and reality, hedonism,
resentment, conflict, betrayal, jealousy, loss and death,
confusion deceit, assumptions, competition, foolishness
honesty, friendship, status, family, love, passion
C.L BARBER
Comedies read in light of marriages, wassails and wakes
Pagan and Christian holidays are all starting points
May Day, Whitsuntide, Midsummer
Eve, Harvest, Halloween
Comedy about pleasure and merry-making
Comedy is a form of release
Comedy reacts against social conformity
MIKHAIL BAKHTIN
Made observations on the contrast between official
culture of the state / religious system / organisations
and the culture of the market place / people
Carnival is a significant
celebration because it allows
people freedom away from
official culture (e.g. Mardi
Gras before Lent