Analyzing Philosophy and Morals in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night and As You Like It

Certain aspects of Aristotle's views on the purpose of a tragic play seem to also describe Shakespeare's work with comedic plays. Aristotle's view is that the audience is gaining useful knowledge as they are entertained by a play describes Twelfth Night and As You Like It in the way that the characters showcased in this play each have a significant personality that can teach society. Shakespeare teaches through individuals, as well as through relationships in the play to expose flaws of mankind to the audience.

In both Twelfth Night and As You Like It, Shakespeare uses a character such as a fool or clown-type individual to expose faults in the characters of both plays. While neither Touchstone in As You Like It or Feste in Twelfth Night are perfect by any means, their blunt candor forces not only the play's characters but also the reader/audience to focus on personality traits such as cynicism, idealism and hypocrisy. Shakespeare continues to expose these traits throughout the play, using the clown as a guide for focus as the characters sometimes deal with issues that arise because of their personality flaws.

Take Malvolio, for instance, in Twelfth Night as an individual who is used to teach. Malvolio is a strict man, referred to by Maria as "the devil a puritan that he is" (Twelfth Night 36). He carries such a strong negative connotation through is condescending nature, showcased when he chides those partying and enjoying themselves, asking "my masters, are you mad? Or what are you? Hove you no wit, manners, nor honesty, but to gabble like tinkers at this time of night?" (Twelfth Night 34). His high-strung, strict lifestyle proves to be somewhat of a false front, as other characters expose his hypocrisy through a false love letter. After chastising them for enjoying themselves, Malvolio finds the letter and starts acting completely different; smiling everywhere, changing who he is in an attempt to win the love of Olivia. This hypocrisy, exposed by Shakespeare as a personality flaw, may teach those watching the play that you must be yourself, and any attempt to pass as some ultra-virtuous member of society will be picked apart.

Sir Toby is also used as a singular example in Twelfth Night. He comes across as a raging alcoholic who does nothing but drink and party, sleeping the days away to enjoy yet another night of fun. While he enjoys himself thoroughly, he seems to dodge maturing in a sense that he does not handle responsibility well. Malvolio sees this and calls him on his "disorders", saying that if he cannot change, he is not "welcome to the house" (Twelfth Night 34).

Shakespeare shows that no person is perfect, however, when considering the relationship of Touchstone and Audrey in As You Like It. Even though Touchstone is a clown who is used to highlight the faults of others, he also has faults of his own. Audrey is best described as a slut; when Audrey denies she is a slut, Touchstone replies that "sluttishness may come hereafter", acknowledging that he is only in the relationship for the sex (As You Like It 64). And while he is only in it for the physicality, she uses him to get into the court, as he is the clown of the court. They are both into the relationship for the wrong reasons, and yet, it works.

Continuing his teaching through example, Shakespeare shows a wide array of lust and relationships in both plays that go beyond the relationship of Touchstone and Audrey. As You Like It shows the sour relationship between two sets of brothers; Oliver and Orlando, and Duke Fredrick with Duke Senior. Oliver treats Orlando as a servant, and when Orlando leaves, he threatens to cause him harm. Duke Fredrick casts out Duke Senior; this situation is not violent like the first, showing the different ways in which family relationships can go sour. The relationship between Rosalind and Celia juxtaposed against the fighting brothers highlights the extreme differences. The cousins are very close and stick with each other throughout the play, giving a positive example of family love.

The idea of "quick lust" comes through heavily in Twelfth Night through a few different situations. Orsino keeps desperately trying to win the love and affection of Olivia, even thought she mentions that "your lord does not know my mind; I cannot love him"; he doesn't know her well enough to love her. He sends Viola (who is disguised as a man) to repetitively spew knowledge of his love for Olivia, even though she does not want to hear it (Twelfth Night 24).

Constantly sending Viola (again, dressed as a man) backfires horrendously though, as a cruel twist begins to form. After visiting Olivia, Malvolio is sent to give Viola Olivia's ring. Viola then realizes that Olivia has fallen in love with the man that she believes Viola is. Continuing this idea of quick lust being confused as love, Viola discusses "how easy is it for the proper false in women's waxen hearts to set their forms!" (Twelfth Night 30).

While it may be easy to say that a play is created just for entertainment, a brief study of just two of Shakespeare's 37 works shows that a play is much more than that. He uses the philosophy that Aristotle points out to highlight issues people face and to show them in extreme forms in order to catch their attention. Shakespeare was a smart man, and uses his plays as a form of teaching the audience as to flaws in their everyday life.