Gender Twelfth Night
Many of the social issues that were dominant during the Renaissance are present in William Shakespeare’s play Twelfth Night. The relationships between Viola/Cesairo and Olivia, Orsino and Viola/Cesairo and Antonio and Sebastian create an immense amount of tension for the characters and audience to deal with because, their relationships conflict with the dominant heteronormative ideology of the time. The heteronormative ideology consists of the belief that to be accepted into society a person must marry someone of the opposite gender as to follow the social norms and fulfill their social role.
Casey Charles’ article, “Gender Trouble in Twelfth Night” focuses on Viola/Cesairo and Olivia, Orsino and Viola/Cesairo and Antonio and Sebastian’s relationships …show more content…
This relates to the gender identity conflict that arises from Viola’s cross-dressing. Her cross-dressing makes her gender unapparent when she is building relationships with Olivia and Cesairo, thus confusing the other characters as well as herself. Initially, in Act 5, when Sebastian arrives in Illyria and Viola reveals herself, the audience sees how Viola’s cross-dressing has caused her to become conflicted regarding her sexuality due to her relationships with Olivia and Cesairo. However, she always remains sure of her gender identity as a woman, allowing her to remember why relationships that would go against the heteronormative beliefs cannot …show more content…
Charles uses their relationship, predominantly, to portray the “constructed categories of sex” (123) and therefore question the heteronormative beliefs of the time. In Nancy Lindheim’s article, “Rethinking Sexuality and Class in Twelfth Night” she argues that Antonio and Sebastian are presented as close friends throughout the play but they both (though primarily Antonio) feel a stronger connection and, are likely leaning towards a romantic relationship. During the Renaissance homosexual relationships were considered shameful as they went against the social order, thus Antonio and Sebastian cannot act, publicly, on their feelings for one
Casey Charles’ article, “Gender Trouble in Twelfth Night” focuses on Viola/Cesairo and Olivia, Orsino and Viola/Cesairo and Antonio and Sebastian’s relationships …show more content…
This relates to the gender identity conflict that arises from Viola’s cross-dressing. Her cross-dressing makes her gender unapparent when she is building relationships with Olivia and Cesairo, thus confusing the other characters as well as herself. Initially, in Act 5, when Sebastian arrives in Illyria and Viola reveals herself, the audience sees how Viola’s cross-dressing has caused her to become conflicted regarding her sexuality due to her relationships with Olivia and Cesairo. However, she always remains sure of her gender identity as a woman, allowing her to remember why relationships that would go against the heteronormative beliefs cannot …show more content…
Charles uses their relationship, predominantly, to portray the “constructed categories of sex” (123) and therefore question the heteronormative beliefs of the time. In Nancy Lindheim’s article, “Rethinking Sexuality and Class in Twelfth Night” she argues that Antonio and Sebastian are presented as close friends throughout the play but they both (though primarily Antonio) feel a stronger connection and, are likely leaning towards a romantic relationship. During the Renaissance homosexual relationships were considered shameful as they went against the social order, thus Antonio and Sebastian cannot act, publicly, on their feelings for one