Twelfth Night, or What You Will Questions

Bring on the tough stuff - there’s not just one right answer.

  1. What are the possible meanings of the play's second title, What You Will? Do they have anything to do with the content of the play? If so, how might they relate to the themes and content of Twelfth Night?
  2. How does Twelfth Night portray love? Are there different kinds of love? What are they? Are some forms of love better than others? Why or why not?
  3. What is the effect of all the music and singing in Twelfth Night? Why do Feste and the others sing so many songs? Why doesn't "Cesario" sing? (After all, "he" is supposed to be a singing eunuch.)
  4. Why does the play go out of its way to leave Viola in her "Cesario" disguise at the play's end? What are the implications of Viola getting engaged to Duke Orsino while still dressed as a boy?
  5. We know that Twelfth Night was performed on Shakespeare's all-male stage. What would the play look like if it were performed by a troupe of all female actors? (We think we smell a high school theater project…)