Final Draft check list:

• avoid passive voice (is shown, instead of shows)
• specific verbs and adjectives (good, is, has—be more precise)
• avoid using words like “is shown” (passive voice), use direct verbs instead like “shows”
• varied sentence structure (start your sentences differently, not always subject verb. Switch the sentence that will flow well in the new order)
• read your essay aloud to check for fluency, correct awkward sections
• make sure that your commentary is specific to the quotation or example then move out to adding depth to your thesis

Irony and Opposites essay (and some that applies to the Feste essay too)

• irony is the basis of the entire play—comedy—irony is often funny
• commentary on our understanding of the world—with irony, everything is confusing, so you need to be really smart like (Viola and Feste) to understand what’s going on and what the truth is
• this is the Duke’s essential failing (besides being obsessed by the image of Olivia)—he does not see the truth
• he needs to understand the world as it really is
• central problem of this play is the discrepancy between appearance and reality—the Duke is fooled by appearances
• this is why Viola’s disguise is so effective
• additionally, her disguise works because the characters believe in the basic Greek concept that “the beautiful is the good.” Shakespeare twists this concept to reveal its fallacy
• Feste points this out to us: people believe disguises because they believe in that concept that people’s outsides match their insides, use the quotations about Feste and his Sir Topas disguise working even though they don’t look alike to make this point
• the play deals with the basic idea that just as appearances can be misleading, so can words. Quotation when Viola and Feste talk and show their ability to twist the meaning of words: you can make words mean anything if you’re clever. These two can do it because they are the only two who have a clue
• basic point that Shakespeare makes, you have to have good perception and judgement in order to succeed –this is what the Duke needs to learn and Viola and Feste teach it to him

• reversal: when Cesario reveals himself to be the lady Viola and Sebastian reveals himself to be her twin brother—this leads to the final resolution

• foil: individ or groups are set up in opposition in order to give more depth or information about each character
• major characters v. minor characters
• Viola v. Olivia
• Duke v. Sir Andrew
• Sebastian v. Cesario, Sebastian v. Duke

Feste essay

• Feste’s actions towards Malvolio (foil for Olivia’s action towards Cesario) skip, but do focus force the Duke to lead, because they are so out of control, he has to do something. The first action the duke takes as a leader is to deal with the mistreatment of Malvolio

• use the fool/husband quotation, Olivia won’t need him anymore because the husband is the fool

• paragraph on how Viola and Feste are similar—both induce the duke to act, both get Olivia out of mourning, both misleading (pseudo husband role)

• importance of Feste to play as a whole
• the play ends with his words

• Feste gets people to move in the right direction
• moves people towards love (Maria about Sir Toby, Olivia out of mourning, Cesario needs a beard)—marriage—order in the kingdom

Theme of Love essay

Duke’s view of love

• superficial
• Cesario should go for a younger woman because women’s looks fade so quickly)
• he chases the image of Olivia, doesn’t really love the real her
• blind to the admirable and feminine characteristics of Viola—he can’t see through her disguise
• appearance is reality for him

Viola begins to educate the duke through the power of her words

• she begins to sway him that his view of love is limited (women can love as much as men)
• when she finally reveals her true identity, he realizes how false appearances can be and he immediately chooses Viola for her personality rather than Olivia’s looks
• Viola & the duke are deeper characters in the end, Olivia and Sebastian are all about “the beautiful is the good”—two couples are good foils for each other
• doesn’t show how the “beautiful is the good” is wrong, just plays with the idea

politics of romance

• disorder I the play because the duke does not rule—instead he’s chasing the image of Olivia
• whole play—everyone is single—disorderly behavior and misunderstandingàpeople start behaving when they get married
• with marriage comes the resolution of the play and restoration of order, Duke leads, people behaves
• duke’s relationship with his wife (or wife to be) mirrors the duke’s relationship with his subjects
• discuss Viola’s role in educating the Duke