The Complete Twelfth Night: An Annotated Edition of the Shakespeare Play

By Donald J. Richardson

Shakespeares Twelfth Night presents a character who is a literary descendant of Sir John Falstaff: Sir Toby Belch. Like Falstaff, Sir Toby is bombastic, mendacious, and pusillanimous. As in Falstaffs case, these character traits might be offset by the humor of the presentation; however, in this readers eyes, the humor does not redeem him or make him lovable.
Malvolio is another person worthy of close consideration. As a near archetypical Puritan, Malvolio excites reader and audience antipathy. His treatment at the hands of Sir Toby, Sir Andrew Aguecheek, and Maria is highly questionable, however. Such bullying as he receives is, at least in 2013, detestable. Additionally, his deserved revenge is given only lip service.
However, the love stories of Twelfth Night probably ought to be our primary consideration. These and the confusion of characters offer a satisfying dramatic experience.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Dec 19, 2013
• ISBN: 9781491842300

Donald J. Richardson

Although he has long been eligible to retire, Donald J. Richardson continues to (try to) teach English Composition at Phoenix College in Arizona. He defines his life through his teaching, his singing, his volunteering, and his grandchildren.

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© 2013 by Donald J. Richardson. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 12/13/2013

ISBN: 978-1-4918-4231-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4918-4229-4 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4918-4230-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2013922537

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Other Books by Donald J. Richardson

Dust in the Wind, 2001

Rails to Light, 2005

Song of Fools, 2006

Words of Truth, 2007

The Meditation of My Heart, 2008

The Days of Darkness, 2009

The Dying of the Light, 2010

Between the Darkness and the Light, 2011

The Days of Thy Youth, 2012

Those Who Sit in Darkness¸ 2013

Just a Song at Twilight, 2014

The Complete Hamlet, 2012

The Complete Macbeth, 2013

The Complete Romeo and Juliet, 2013

The Complete King Lear, 2013

The Complete Julius Caesar, 2013

The Complete Merchant of Venice, 2013

The Complete Midsummer Night’s Dream, 2013

The Complete Much Ado About Nothing, 2013

Table of Contents

ACT I

ACT II

ACT III

ACT IV

ACT V

Works Cited

For all the lovers of Shakespeare

About the Book

Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night presents a character who is a literary descendant of Sir John Falstaff: Sir Toby Belch. Like Falstaff, Sir Toby is bombastic, mendacious, and pusillanimous. As in Falstaff’s case, these character traits might be offset by the humor of the presentation; however, in this reader’s eyes, the humor does not redeem him or make him lovable.

Malvolio is another person worthy of close consideration. As a near archetypical Puritan, Malvolio excites reader and audience antipathy. However, his treatment at the hands of Sir Toby, Sir Andrew Aguecheek, and Maria is highly questionable. Such bullying as he receives is, at least in 2013, detestable. Additionally, his deserved revenge is given only lip service.

However, the love stories of Twelfth Night probably ought to be our primary consideration. These and the confusion of characters offer a satisfying dramatic experience.

About the Author

Donald J. Richardson continues to write and to teach, both activities which he pleasures in.

ACT I

SCENE I. DUKE ORSINO’s palace.

Enter DUKE ORSINO, CURIO, and other Lords; Musicians attending