A common theme in literature is not to judge a book by its cover. Analyze how Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare uses this theme. Give two examples.

Question

English

Brodie Norris

28 May, 13:29

A common theme in literature is not to judge a book by its cover. Analyze how Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare uses this theme. Give two examples.

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Answers (1)

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Margaret Gibbs · Answer 1

The answer is Shakespeare uses humor to approach the theme. The same way he uses in Sonnet 130.

Explanation:

In Twelfth Night, when he writes about not judging a book by his cover, he is actually making a reference to Viola pretending to be a man. She is hidding her gender. She pretends to be Cesario, so that she can work for Duke Orsinio, and that leads to a comic situation. Because Olivia falls in love with Cesario, who is Viola, and Viola falls in love with the Duke.

What we learn from this Shakespearian comedy is that love is more than physical appearance and attraction. Because both Orsino and Olivia find something lovable in Cesario that they cannot explain.