Feste in William Shakespeares Twelfth Night Essay

Feste in William Shakespeares Twelfth Night In William Shakespeares comedy Twelfth Night, it is ironic how many times the fool is said to be dishonest, when, in fact, his role proves entirely opposite. Though sometimes the characters do not realize his hidden messages, the reader can instantly comprehend Festes figurative language, which is evident in every scene in which the fool appears. Whether he is singing to Orsino, arguing with Malvolio, or playing around with Viola, Feste always manages to sneak in a few symbolic foretokens before his exit. His keen eye and fast wit help him to actively partake in the portrayal of the story, however, the fool is merely present to express that which cannot be fully expressed through the†¦show more content†¦Upon closer inspection of his words, the reader can see Festes honest assessment of character shine through. For example, while jeering back and forth with Malvolio, Feste states, Sir Toby will be sworn / that I am no fox, but he will not pass his word for / twopence that yo u are no fool (1.5.77-79). In this proclamation, Feste shows his perceptions of both Toby and Malvolio. He believes that Toby is not a wise man due to the fact that, although the fool is clearly intelligent, Toby does not realize just how crafty Feste truly is. However, Malvolios self-deception is so obviously false that even one such as Toby, who cannot even realize Festes ingenuity, can see through it. Later, while he is fooling around with Toby and Andrew, Feste laughs, Did you ever see the / picture of We Three? (2.3.16-17). This comparison between the three characters in the scene and the famous painting of We Three, a picture portraying only two fools, therefore implying the viewer to be a third fool, shows that Feste portrays both Sir Toby and Andrew to be fools, along with himself as the third. One last illustration of Festes whimsical messages can be found while he is speaking to Sebastian. In this instance, the fool reveals one of the plays ongoing themes by stating, No, I do not know you, †¦ nor your name is not Master Cesario, †¦ Nothing that is so is so (4.1.5-9). To Sebastian, this statement was simply a sarcastic one,Show MoreRelatedThe Role and Function of Feste in William Shakespeares Twelfth Night465 Words   |  2 Pagesof Feste in William Shakespeares Twelfth Night In Elizabethan times the Twelfth Night was a time of holiday and festivals and it was sometimes known as the feast of fools. Slapstick comedy, satire and romance along with disguise and frivolity were all ingredients, which would have been the order of the day. Feste the fool represents the festive spirit of the play, and he makes an important contribution to the action. 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