Throughout most of Shakespeare 's plays there have been a number of common themes. By this he was able to send common messages again and again or stump his audience with the same tricks. Although these themes are common the way they are orchestrated in each play is slightly different. Shakespeare was an author, poet, and playwright that used the theme of appearance versus reality in a number of his plays which provided his audience with obstacles to find the truth. The theme, appearance versus reality, comes up in his plays including but not limited to A Midsummer Night 's Dream, Twelfth Night, and the Merchant of Venice.
A Midsummer Night 's Dream is a play with a numerous amount of tales that intertwine the whole story. The marriage of Hippolyta …show more content…
Unlike A Midsummer Night 's Dream, Twelfth Night has more literal occurrences of reality differing from what is seen. The most major example is how Viola disguises herself as a eunuch. With her ruse she gains employment, causes more than one person to fall in love with her, and sources a lot of confusion. She does this very much aware of her actions expressed in act I scene II lines 103-104 “For such disguise as haply shall become The form of my intent. I 'll serve this duke:”( Shakespeare; Open Source Shakespeare) Her disguise works well to her advantage until her brother is found in Illyria. When she is dueling Sir Andrew, Antonio comes to her aid thinking she is Sebastian. Officers come to arrest Antonio and he asks Viola for the money he gave her, but it was Sebastian that had the money. Viola denies knowing Antonio at all and he says in act III scene IV lines 1919-1920 “But O how vile an idol proves this god Thou hast, Sebastian, done good feature shame.”( Shakespeare; Open Source Shakespeare) Viola realizes her brother is alive and her need for the disguise has now gone, but before she can reveal the truth a lot of misunderstandings occur. Olivia’s love for Cersario is placed on Sebastian, being rather convenient and the Duke, Orsino, is able to admit his feelings for Cersario knowing now she is Viola and a
A Midsummer Night 's Dream is a play with a numerous amount of tales that intertwine the whole story. The marriage of Hippolyta …show more content…
Unlike A Midsummer Night 's Dream, Twelfth Night has more literal occurrences of reality differing from what is seen. The most major example is how Viola disguises herself as a eunuch. With her ruse she gains employment, causes more than one person to fall in love with her, and sources a lot of confusion. She does this very much aware of her actions expressed in act I scene II lines 103-104 “For such disguise as haply shall become The form of my intent. I 'll serve this duke:”( Shakespeare; Open Source Shakespeare) Her disguise works well to her advantage until her brother is found in Illyria. When she is dueling Sir Andrew, Antonio comes to her aid thinking she is Sebastian. Officers come to arrest Antonio and he asks Viola for the money he gave her, but it was Sebastian that had the money. Viola denies knowing Antonio at all and he says in act III scene IV lines 1919-1920 “But O how vile an idol proves this god Thou hast, Sebastian, done good feature shame.”( Shakespeare; Open Source Shakespeare) Viola realizes her brother is alive and her need for the disguise has now gone, but before she can reveal the truth a lot of misunderstandings occur. Olivia’s love for Cersario is placed on Sebastian, being rather convenient and the Duke, Orsino, is able to admit his feelings for Cersario knowing now she is Viola and a