Summary:
Discusses if Illyria, the city in Shakespeare's play Twelfth Night, is the perfect paradise for those who have none or few responsibilities.
Paradise: state or place of perfect happiness, heaven, innocence.
Illyria- a name that sounds like it should belong in a book by C.S Lewis, the place where Shakespeare's 'Twelfth Night' is set, full of the rich, beautiful and successful. On the surface, Illyria- seems to be the ideal destination, the perfect lifestyle, the place where everyone wants to be. But underneath all the glamour of cross-garters, it is just like any other civilization, full of rules, violence and unhappiness.
The characters' experiences in Twelfth Night are opposite to the words that define paradise- happiness, heaven and innocence. The question that I am responding to states that Illyria could be described as a paradise for those who have few or no responsibilities. In the beginning of the play, Viola is washed up on the shores of Illyria. She stands there, with no responsibilities and yet, contradictory to the question, she doesn't think that Illyria is paradise. Paradise, (point up at whiteboard)- happiness.
Viola is in the depths of despair. She isn't happy. She is willing to kill herself because she believes her brother is dead. (point up to whiteboard)- Heaven. Although Viola believes that her brother is in heaven, Illyria is hell to her because she has no hope. She stays with this viewpoint throughout the play, whilst becoming increasingly confused because of the situation with Oliva and Orsino. It is only when the play reaches its end that Viola's opinion of the hellish Illyria changes.
Innocence (point up on whiteboard), the opposite of which is guilt. During the play, all the characters get their fair share of guilt, Viola included. Viola as Cesario feels very guilty when she realises that Olivia has fallen in love with her. She feels guilty because Orsino asked her to woo Olivia into loving him and not into loving her. Viola's guilt increases and finally climaxes towards the end of the play when Cesario is revealed to be a woman. Olivia sees Viola in new light and although she is embarrassed at the situation she treats her like a sister.
Sir Toby and Sir Andrew are perfect examples of people who have few or no responsibilities, who can do whatever they please, whenever they please. Therefore, Illyria is like a paradise in their eyes. They are amusing characters and always up for a laugh. In regards to Sir Toby and Sir Andrew I do agree with the point of view that the question puts forward. However, Feste the jester also fits the description of a person with few responsibilities and who does whatever they like whenever they like, but Feste seems to be above everything on Illyria.
He is very observant of peoples' behaviour and his songs are enlightening and satirical. Illyria could be described as a paradise for Feste because he witnesses so many selfish and cruel acts, which feed his brain and his songs. But I don't believe that Illyria is ultimately paradise for Feste because I think he has already found his paradise within himself. Shakespeare set the country of Illyria where Slovenia and northern Croatia are today. He chose this name because its sounds exotic and mysterious.
The name 'Illyria' also suggests the delirium, which was experienced by many of the characters in Twelfth Night. Similarly to 'Lord of the Flies' the setting of the play/book influences the characters. Both Illryia and the island in 'Lord of the Flies' are like paradise to some of the characters. As both Twelfth Night and Lord of the Flies unfold, the characters become more aware that the glamour of the setting is distracting them from what is really happening.
In conclusion and in answer to the question, I mainly disagree with the statement that Illyria could be described as a paradise for those who have few or no responsibilities and who can do whatever they want, whenever they want.
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