Resume of twelfth night
Resume of twelfth nightTwelfth Night was the festival held on the night of the 5th January (12th night after Christmas), and the night before the Epiphany, the time the Three Wise Men visited Jesus. This gives rise to its French name, "La Nuit Des Rois".
In medieval and Tudor times, this festival was by tradition very rowdy (it is possible that 12th Night was derived from the Roman festival of "Saturnalia", held in December, which was renowned for its revelry). One of the activities was a masquerade, in which everyone wore masks to conceal their identity, therefore also concealing their rank in society. Another activity was mock "King-for-a-Day", in which a member of each household was chosen by lottery to be "King". It is consequently quite likely that a child or servant could be chosen, and they would preside over their elders or masters respectively. A director would be specially appointed for the festival. In England he was called "Lord (or Abbot) of Misrule" and in Scotland, "Master of Unreason"
In 1601, there were particularly spectacular festivities, as it was the turn of the century, and the Queen, Elizabeth I, invited Don Virginio Orsino to the Palace of Whitehall for the celebrations. This event gives rise to the theory put forward by Leslie Hotson, in his book, "The Fist Night of Twelfth Night", that this particular William Shakespeare play was specially written for that occasion.
All the activities of the festival have parallels in the play. There is the suspension of normal relations between servants and masters, the equivalent of the mock "King-for-a-Day" in the festival. The servants and masters fall in love with someone of the opposite class. Olivia (master) loves Cesario (servant), Cesario loves Orsino (master), Malvolio (servant) loves Olivia and also enjoys the fantasy of dominating Sir Toby Belch, his master. Sir Toby is in...
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