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Jesters Clowns Buffons In Twelth Night Essay

Jesters, Clowns, Buffons In Twelth Night Essay, Research Paper


A fool can be defined in many meanings according to the


Oxford English Dictionary On Historical Principles. The word


could mean “a silly person”, or “one who professionally


counterfeits folly for the entertainment of others, a jester,


clown” or “one who has little or no reason or intellect” or


“one who is made to appear to be a fool” (word originated from


North Frisian). In english literature, the two main ways which


the fool could enter imaginative literature is that “He could


provide a topic, a theme for mediation, or he could turn into a


stock character on the stage, a stylized comic figure”. In


William Shakespeare’s comedy, Twelfth Night, Feste the clown is


not the only fool who is subject to foolery. He and many other


characters combine their silly acts and wits to invade other


characters that “evade reality or rather realize a dream”, while


“our sympathies go out to those”. “It is natural that the fool


should be a prominent & attractive figure and make an important


contribution to the action” in forming the confusion and the


humor in an Elizabethan drama. In Twelfth Night, the clown and


the fools are the ones who combine humor & wit to make the comedy


work.


Clowns, jesters, and Buffoons are usually regarded as fools.


Their differences could be of how they dress, act or portrayed in


society. A clown for example, “was understood to be a country


bumpkin or ‘cloun’”. In Elizabethan usage, the word ‘clown’ is


ambiguous “meaning both countryman and principal comedian”.


Another meaning given to it in the 1600 is “a fool or jester”.


As for a buffoon, it is defined as “a man whose profession is to


make low jests and antics postures; a clown, jester, fool”.


The buffoon is a fool because “although he exploits his own


weaknesses instead of being exploited by others….he resembles


other comic fools”. This is similar to the definition of a


‘Jester’ who is also known as a “buffoon, or a merry andrew. One


maintained in a prince’s court or nobleman’s household”. As


you can see, the buffoon, jester and the clown are all depicted


as fools and are related & tied to each other in some sort of


way. They relatively have the same objectives in their roles but


in appearance wise (clothes, physical features) they may be


different. In Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, Feste’s role in this


Illyrian comedy is significant because “Illyria is a country


permeated with the spirit of the Feast of Fools, where identities


are confused, ‘uncivil rule’ applauded…and no harm is done”.


“In Illyria therefore the fool is not so much a critic of his


environment as a ringleader, a merry-companion, a Lord of


Misrule. Being equally welcome above and below stairs..” makes


Feste significant as a character. In Twelfth Night, Feste plays


the role of a humble clown employed by Olivia’s father playing


the licensed fool of their household. We learn this in Olivia’s


statement stating that Feste is “an allowed fool”(I.v.93) meaning


he is licensed, privileged critic to speak the truth of the


people around him. We also learn in a statement by Curio to the


Duke that Feste is employed by Olivia’s father. “Feste the


jester… a fool that the Lady Olivia’s father took much pleasure


in”(II.iv.11).


Feste is more of the comic truth of the comedy. Although he


does not make any profound remarks, he seems to be the wisest


person within all the characters in the comedy. Viola remarks


this by saying “This fellow’s wise enough to play the


fool”(III.i.61). Since Feste is a licensed fool, his main role


in Twelfth Night is to speak the truth. This is where the humor


lies, his truthfulness. In one example he proves Olivia to be a


true fool by asking her what she was mourning about. The poi

nt


Feste tried to make was why was Olivia mourning for a person


who’s soul is in heaven?


“ClOWN Good madonna, why mourn’st thou?


OLIVIA Good Fool, for my brother’s death.


ClOWN I think his soul is in hell, madonna.


OLIVIA I know his soul is in heaven, fool.


CLOWN The more fool, madonna, to mourn for your


brother’s soul, being in heaven. Take away the fool,


gentlemen.


Adding to the humor of the comedy, Feste, dresses up as Sir


Topaz, the curate and visits the imprisoned Malvolio with Maria


and Sir Toby. There he uses his humor to abuse Malvolio


who is still unaware that he is actually talking to the clown


than to the real Sir Topas. Feste (disguised as Sir Topaz)


calls Malvolio a “lunatic” (IV.ii.23), “satan”(IV.ii.32) and


confuses him by wittingly making him a fool.


Throughout the play, Malvolio has always been the person who


intentionally spoils the pleasure of other people(killjoy). He


is Feste’s worst nightmare in the play, but in the end is


triumphed over by Feste completely and is the only character to


show a negative attitude and a dignity reversed.


“MALVOLIO: I’ll be revenged on the whole pack of


you!” (V.i.378) At the end of the comedy, Feste, “is given the


last word and is left in possession of the stage”.


Maria, Olivia’s companion is another person who seems


enthusiastic in playing pranks on other people. In Twelfth


Night, she plays the unsuspecting role of a behind the scene


fool who gives ideas to Feste, Sir Andrew & Sir Toby to


assist her in her plans. In two incidents, she remains quiet


while her plans are carried out by either the Knights or the


Clown.


Part of the humor that lies in this comedy is that Maria’s


pranks are harsh & cruel, using love and power (status of Olivia)


to attack Malvolio, steward of Olivia, who is “….sick of self


love”(I.v.90). For this, Malvolio’s greed for power ends


himself locked up in a dark cell and is accused of being mad.


She also prepares Feste to disguise as Sir Topaz. This is seen


in the quote: “Nay,I prithee put on this gown and this beard;


make him believe thou are Sir Topas the curate; do it quickly.


I’ll call Sir Toby the whilst.” (IV.ii.1,2,3) Combined with other


fools, Maria helps make Twelfth Night a hilariously funny comedy.


Lastly, Sir Toby Belch is another fool in Twelfth Night.


His role is helping “on the game of make-believe”. Always


convincing & encouraging the rich Sir Andrew Aguecheek that he


has a chance of winning Lady Olivia’s love. He is similar to


Feste, except he plays the role of a knight and is Olivia’s


kinsman. His role is similar to a fool because he depicts many


pranks of a fool. For example in Act II scene iii, while he was


drunk he sings along with Feste when Malvolio barges in to shut


them up. Whenever there is a prank, Maria invites Sir Toby to


participate. One such prank was to assist Maria’s fake


letter to make Malvolio think Olivia is in love with


him. Sir Toby’s make-believe scheme works convincingly on


Malvolio. Another prank was to accompany the disguised Feste


(Sir Topaz) into the dark cell where Malvolio was imprisoned.


This accompaniment was probably to assure Malvolio that the real


Sir Topaz is visiting him. Yet it is another make-believe scheme


of Sir Toby.


In Twelfth Night, the fools are the ones that control the


comedy and humor in the play. They assist in the make believe


game and fool around with characters who “evade reality or rather


realize a dream”. In Twelfth Night, Feste, Maria and Sir Toby


are the fools that make the comedy work in many senses. They


create the confusion through humor and it all works out in the


end to make William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night a really funny


Elizabethan play.


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