Samantha Souza

Samantha Souza

Shakespeare NLIT 3210

Nicholas Burns

October 20, 2009

As You Like It versus Twelfth Night

While reading As You Like It, I couldnt help but think that it was a far inferior version of Shakespeares (in my opinion) perfect comedy, Twelfth Night. The similarities are immeasurable. William Shakespeare wrote As You Like It two years before Twelfth Night, giving him adequate time to take the basic ideas executed in the former play (a woman dressed as a man teaches the man she loves how to woo another woman, a jester, etc), and improve upon them. After those improvements were made, he incorporated them into, what I believe to be the far superior Twelfth Night.

I believe As You Like It is supposed to be humorous, but I didnt find myself entertained. It seemed almost ridiculous for a man to not recognize his new friend, Ganymede, as simply Rosalind in mens clothing. Twelfth Night played this off much better because Duke Orsino had not ever met Viola in her maiden state. Also, while Orlando is desperately seeking the love of Rosalind (who happens to be dressed as Ganymede), Orsino was seeking the love of an entirely different woman, Olivia, giving a more interesting plot scheme. Olivias love therefore seems more pure, because she selflessly helps Orsino in his attempt to win the love of another woman. She loves him that much. Rosalind comes off as sneaky, childish, and tricky, because she could easily tell Orlando her true identity, and she doesnt. She plays mind games with him until she has him exactly where she wants him. This seems underhanded, mean and manipulative to me. Rosalinds love does not seem selfless and true, as Violas does in Twelfth Night.

In addition, because of the complication of the Viola/Orsino/Olivia love triangle, the ending seems far less obvious and sophomore than As You Like It. In that play, we already know that Orlando loves Rosalind, and its just a matter of how and when he is going to find out that she is, in fact, his helpful friend Ganymede. What is the fun in that? The audience feels sorry for Viola because her love interest is in love with another woman, who happened to be in love with her! How is this all going to work itself out? Just because the audience KNOWS it is going to work it out doesnt mean they know how (or rather, WANT to know how) right away. That makes it more fun, and far superior than As You Like It, which plot line, while not completely devoid of fun, is elementary and easy to unscramble. Also, in my opinion, I found Rosalind unlikable because she behaves immaturely.

Twelfth Night and As You Like It both feature a slightly delusional woman who is in love with the female protagonist who is disguised like a gentleman. In As You Like It, Phebe is in love with Rosalind, dressed as Ganymede. In Twelfth Night, Olivia is in love with Viola, dressed as Cesario. Both Ganymede and Cesario meet their respective ladies in an attempt to match them with someone else, only to find that those ladies have fallen for them! The problem with As You Like It in this aspect is that upon discovering that Ganymede is, in fact, Rosalind, she agrees to marry Silvius. It almost seems like Phebe is settling, and while she isnt the most likeable character in As You Like It, the audience doesnt like to see anyone settle for someone else after losing their love. In Twelfth Night, however, Olivia falls for Viola/Cesario, but accidentally marries Violas twin brother Sebastian, thinking it is Cesario. Sebastian falls in love with Olivia, and when all find out Cesarios true identity, it doesnt matter, because everyone gets what they want, especially Orsino and Viola, who love each other, after all. Once again, Twelfth Night improves upon As You Like It.

Another difference between Cesario and Ganymede is class and social status. In the Forest of Ardenne, there are no rules. In Illyria, there are Dukes, Counts, masters and servants. Cesario must obey the orders of her Duke Orsino, and she cannot challenge Olivia because her rank is higher than hers. This complicates all of their interactions, because Viola cannot act freely. Rosalind can do however she pleases hidden under the guise of Ganymede, however. This leads her to match certain people with others, play mind games, and traipse around the Forrest having her fun. It is far less interesting, because there is far less struggle.

The two plays both have a curmudgeon, as well. As You Like It has Jacques and Twelfth Night has Malvolio. Both find all things amusing instead quite frustrating, and because of that, they do not get along smoothly with the rest of the jolly, romantic characters. Both characters are at odds with the entire feel of the rest of the play, breaking them up, and giving somewhat of a foiled perspective. While Jacques admires the fool, Touchstone, Malvolio finds the fool, Feste, tiresome and unnecessary. Touchstone may be a bit more successful in his wit than Feste, but Feste is older, and somewhat sad. The songs he sings always have a melancholy undertone, while maintainging their cleverness. Festes character is much more fleshed out than Touchstones, putting Twelfth Night over the top.

All in all, As You Like It and Twelfth Night have copious amounts of identical plot points and characters. To say that Twelfth Night is better is almost unfair, because it seems as if it is simply Shakespeares improvement on an existing story, ironically written by Shakespeare himself. It is possible to suppose that Shakespeare wouldnt purposefully create two stories so similar without it being intentional. But, if considered as completely separate, unrelated plays, Twelfth Night is the finer, more advanced of the two because the female protagonist has a fuller depth of love, the plot is less predictable, and the supporting characters are more fleshed out.