Home
Creators
Search Recent Random
Posts
Search DMs Popular Hash Lookup Tags Random
Importer
Import FAQ
Register Favorites Keys Review DMs Logout
Community
Telegram ThePornDude
Home Creators Posts Import Register Favorites Logout

Lecture on Shakespeare's Twelfth Night (Patreon)

Published:
2022-11-24 17:37:19
Imported:
2026-06
haven't archived this post yet. have a subscription? use the importer!

Content

"If music be the food of love, play on..."

This is our post-play analysis for Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.

You may wish to listen after your first reading of the play, using the lecture as an opportunity to reread. Or you may wish to listen as you make your way through the play in real time.

We have timestamps indicating the topics, with acts and scenes referenced throughout the video, so feel free to digest our discussion in the way that best serves you.

Timestamps:

  • 0:00 beginning with a shipwreck
  • 1:58 comedy as festive celebration
  • 6:00 ‘if music be the food of love’
  • 9:00 Viola becomes Cesario
  • 15:00 meeting Feste & Malvolio
  • 17:30 Cesario & Olivia meet
  • 19:00 Shakespeare the sonneteer
  • 21:40 meeting Sebastian
  • 23:00 imposed vs true love
  • 25:30 virtue vs cakes & ale
  • 27:00 how do men & women love?
  • 30:00 Shakespeare the love poet
  • 31:00 ‘some are born great…’
  • 32:53 Olivia loves Cesario
  • 34:20 brother & sister as one
  • 35:57 the moment of reunion
  • 38:28 Feste’s closing song
  • 43:30 seeing ourselves in Shakespeare
  • 45:00 what did you make of this play?

Questions to Consider:

1) Is Twelfth Night a cruel comedy?

2) Do men and women love differently? And what does love mean to you?

3) Twelfth Night is a play filled with iconic lines, profound passages, and marvellous poetry. Do you have any personal favourites? And where would you place this one in your ranking of the plays thus far?

Happy reading, everybody!

Files

Previews only

Shakespeare's Twelfth Night: Winter Romance Lecture

0:00 beginning with a shipwreck 1:58 comedy as festive celebration 6:00 ‘if music be the food of love’ 9:00 Viola becomes Cesario 15:00 meeting Feste & Malvolio 17:30 Cesario & Olivia meet 19:00 Shakespeare the sonneteer 21:40 meeting Sebastian 23:00 imposed vs true love 25:30 virtue vs cakes & ale 27:00 how do men & women love? 30:00 Shakespeare the love poet 31:00 ‘some are born great…’ 32:53 Olivia loves Cesario 34:20 brother & sister as one 35:57 the moment of reunion 38:28 Feste’s closing song 43:30 seeing ourselves in Shakespeare 45:00 what did you make of this play?

Comments

Suz R

I have to admit I love this play. One reason is the banter between that characters as well as the background information. I first came about it watching it on DVD cause it started Ben Kingsley and who can turn down a play with him in the cast. It was great fun and in May ways showed Shakespeare range as it was part drama, part comedy and part romance and my first time watching / reading it I felt all the emotions that I would expect.

Leslie R

I've just reached the finish (for now) of this read through of Twelfth Night and I loved it. It hits differently with age and while I understand the desire to torment Malvolio and his puritanical ways, the torment of him makes me cringe now. It made me laugh before. I've thought a lot about what his vengeance might look like...another story to finish when we're done with Drood, perhaps? :) I listened to the BBC radio drama, watched the 1997 film and the performance at the Globe and loved them all equally, while taking different things from each. My favorite line? I think it has to be Orsino's, "I myself am best when least in company". Though I also loved Maria telling Malvolio to, "go shake your ears". Haha.